Arab Finance: Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem met with Dole Gueu Albert, Côte d’Ivoire’s Ambassador to Egypt, to explore closer industrial cooperation and joint investment opportunities, including tire manufacturing, palm oil production, and agro-industries, according to a Ministry of Industry statement.
The talks focused on sectors prioritized in both countries’ government plans. Hashem indicated that the ministry and the Ivorian Embassy would begin reviewing areas where their industrial strategies overlap to identify projects that could be implemented in the near term. The aim is to draw on each country’s strengths to establish industries serving both markets.
Hashem emphasized that industrial integration with African countries is a key pillar of Egypt’s Industrial Strategy 2030. Pointing to the close bilateral relationship, he reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with Côte d’Ivoire to translate their combined capabilities and resources into mutual economic benefits.
The meeting also examined obstacles to joint investments, including the absence of an Egyptian bank in Côte d’Ivoire and the lack of a maritime trade agreement between the two countries. Hashem stressed that concrete projects would be central to accelerating cooperation and overcoming financial and logistical challenges.
Outlining the opportunities available to Egyptian investors, the Ambassador explained that Côte d’Ivoire’s five-year economic plan extending to 2030 identifies industrial sectors for projects to be developed with private-sector participation. He highlighted tire manufacturing, palm oil production, and other agro-industrial activities as areas where Egyptian companies could invest directly.
He added that the Ivorian government is seeking to attract Egyptian industrial investment, particularly in manufacturing, and emphasized the shared outlook of the two countries’ political leaderships.
The Ambassador also reaffirmed Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Egypt and putting into effect the agreements signed during President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s visit to the country in 2019.
