The latest report issued by the Egyptian General Authority for Export and Import Control showed that Libya topped the list of African importers of Egyptian goods, at an estimated $317 million dollars.
The report noted that Egyptian exports to African countries amounted to $1.611 billion dollars, while imports stood at $506 million dollars.
The top five markets for exports to Africa were Libya, Sudan, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, with values of $317 million, $226 million, $217 million, $191 million, and $86 million, respectively.
According to Al-Ahram newspaper, construction materials were Egypt’s main exports, with a value of $422 million, followed by chemicals and fertilisers at $358 million, and foodstuffs at $242 million.
Other exports included electronic and engineering goods, ready-made garments, paper, packaging and upholstery; medical products; crops; textiles; handicrafts and furniture. This aligns with Egypt’s goals to enhance trade with Africa, and overcome any obstacles that may impede trade between countries due to the Ukrainian conflict.
Egypt is a signatory to several continental trade agreements, including the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.
Notably, Egypt’s Minister of Transport, Kamel El-Wazir announced that his ministry plans to extend the railway network to Benghazi, eastern Libya.
El-Wazir added that the first line of the high-speed electric train network will be extended from the Egyptian city of Salloum, to Benghazi.
“We seek to link high-speed railways with neighbouring countries such as Sudan and Libya’s Benghazi,” he said on Tuesday, during his speech at the World High-Speed Rail Conference.
This year’s conference is organized by the International Union of Railways, in Marrakesh, Morocco.
El-Wazir noted that “Africa urgently needs to build about 18,000 km of railway lines by 2040 to cover the shortage it is facing in rail transport projects. This requires huge investments.”
