Minister El-Khatib asserted that the joint committee meeting is a crucial step to enhance economic and commercial cooperation. He noted that relations between the two countries have witnessed significant growth, guided by the directives of the two leaders, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and King Mohammed VI, which established a clear framework to elevate cooperation to broader horizons serving the shared interests of the two peoples.
El-Khatib praised the positive trend in inter-trade movement,
noting that the volume of bilateral trade reached nearly $1.1 billion in 2024
and recorded $897 million from January to October 2025.
He stressed the importance of joint efforts to further
increase these indicators to reflect the full potential of both economies. He
added that the upcoming phase requires translating recent agreements into
clear, implementable results.
The Minister stated that establishing a permanent
cooperation platform and a joint committee to remove trade obstacles are
essential steps to ensure the effective implementation of agreements and
address challenges related to customs, non-tariff barriers, and market access.
These mechanisms, he pointed out, will allow for the regular monitoring of any
impediments facing the public and private sectors.
He also highlighted the significance of coordinating
positions within the African continent, especially within the framework of the African
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This coordination, he explained, will strengthen
the economic presence of both Egypt and Morocco and support their ability to
formulate balanced positions that advance common interests in Africa.
El-Khatib emphasized the importance of achieving market
access integration in Africa. He noted that Egypt holds broad opportunities in East
African markets, while Morocco has a strong presence in West African markets.
This geographic distribution opens the door for building effective models of productive
and commercial integration, enhancing the competitiveness of companies and
increasing joint cooperation opportunities.
The Minister referred to the tangible outcomes of the recent
Business and Economic Partnership Forum, indicating a genuine desire from the
business communities in both countries to boost cooperation in key sectors such
as agriculture and food industries, fishery products, automotive and components,
electrical and electronic industries, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, shipbuilding
and maintenance, chemical industries, textiles, engineering industries, and technological
services.
He noted that these sectors represent ready opportunities
for growth and added value through an integrated approach.
El-Khatib concluded by stressing that the historical and
fraternal ties between Egypt and Morocco impose a shared responsibility to
translate them into stronger economic cooperation and broader productive and
commercial partnerships.
For his part, Omar Hejira affirmed that the AfCFTA
represents the future of trade. He indicated that the meeting aimed to evaluate
the level of bilateral coordination to enhance trade exchanges and review the
trade balance.
Hejira underscored the necessity of a clear vision for Moroccan-Egyptian trade relations by achieving concrete results with realistic figures that effectively boost the trade balance between the two countries and increase Moroccan exports. He called on the Egyptian private sector to make additional efforts to develop these exchanges.