Dr Mazhar: Intra-African trade contributes to integrated continent

Former Assistant Minister of Industry Dr. Youssef Mazhar attached importance to the current phase of the intra-African trade

Former Assistant Minister of Industry Dr. Youssef Mazhar attached importance to the current phase of the intra-African trade saying that Egypt is considered in the midst of Africa figuratively as we’ve got the east coast of Africa and also the west coast, thus we have tremendous opportunities there.

In his phone call to (Africa Today), he added that our leader has been focusing on transportation: we have highways going through Egypt to our boundaries with Sudan and we are planning to reach South Africa. We are also overwhelming the sea roads from Suez along the coast to the eastern coast of the continent, he elaborated, as in order to have trade and business in Africa we need to have transportation which is completed now.

He stated that Congo is full of minerals e.g. cobalt, copper and diamonds so we have to exchange trade with it. We can extend railways to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as we are working on a dam in Tanzania. Our mechanics and building capabilities together with Chinese partners, according to his part, we boost our continent.

Dr. Mazhar shed light on the efforts led by President Abdel Fattah e-Sisi to send amounts of the COVID19 vaccines to African countries. We also supported medical staff, doctors, nurses and provisions, he illustrated..

He said that the African free trade area has got many trade agreements such as exports with no currency restrictions or trade restrictions, yet it needs some time due to the pandemic and other factors. He concluded that we still have one strong element in Africa which is the Egyptian peacekeeping forces.

(Africa Today) is aired from Saturday to Thursday. This episode is presented by Mahesty Rabei.