Zaki stressed that boosting exports is a key goal for many
economies, as it drives growth, strengthens the national currency, and improves
the balance of payments. He added that achieving this requires enhancing the
competitiveness of exported products.
He highlighted that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s
decision to conduct trade with African countries in local currencies is an
important step toward strengthening Egypt’s influence on the continent. The
move, he said, restores Egypt and Sudan to their historical unity and reduces European
and foreign dominance over African states, thereby reinforcing African
alignment with Egypt.
Zaki further noted that African countries remain major
destinations for Egyptian exports, particularly Sudan, where Egypt is working
to deepen trade ties.
He explained that the ongoing conflict has disrupted
economic activity and left many land routes unusable, which has weakened the
volume of Egyptian exports to Sudan.
According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and
Statistics (CAPMAS), trade exchange between Egypt and Sudan fell to $1.2
billion in 2024, down from $1.4 billion in 2023. Nevertheless, Zaki stressed
that trade flows have continued despite Sudan’s political and security turmoil,
pointing out that bilateral trade rests on a strong foundation that ensures
continuity even during crises.