South Africa on Friday elevated its trade and economic relations with Egypt by launching the Joint South Africa - Egypt Business Council (JBC) on the margins of the Alamein- Africa Business Forum.
In a statement, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) said Egypt is South Africa’s strategic partner and largest export market in North Africa.
“It has by far the largest population in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, over 102 million, a GDP [gross domestic product] of $362 billion, and is one of Africa’s most diversified, large, and dynamic economies. There are solid opportunities for South African companies in the medium-to-long term and a platform for commercial activities in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa,” said the dtic.
Bilateral trade between South Africa and Egypt has increased.
“According to data received [from] Statistics South Africa, direct bilateral trade increased by 26% from R3.4 billion in 2024 to R4.3 billion in 2025. Secondly, South Africa’s exports to Egypt grew by 21% from R1.3 billion in 2024 to R1.6 billion in 2025. Based on direct data, South Africa had a trade deficit with Egypt from 2021 to 2025.
“These are positive results, making South Africa Egypt’s 46th export destination and 58th source of imports from the rest of the world in 2025,” the department said.
Key initiatives of the JBC include:
- A launch of a Mining and Minerals Partnership, Automotive and New-Energy Mobility Partnership.
- An Agriculture and Agro-processing Corridor, an Engineering and Infrastructure Partnership.
- A Renewable Energy and Green Industrial Platform.
- An Africa Joint-Venture Investment Fund, as a private-sector investment vehicle targeting companies and projects capable of expanding beyond the two domestic markets.
Meanwhile, dtic Minister Parks Tau participated in the Africa Automotive Investment Forum, held on the margins of the inaugural Alamein Africa Forum in Egypt, under the theme “Unlocking Africa’s Automotive Industry Potential under the AfCFTA.”
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The Forum was hosted by Dr Mohamed Farid Saleh, the Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Government of Egypt, in collaboration with Afreximbank and the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM). Participants at the Forum observed the signing and launch of the Joint Business Council between South Africa and Egypt.
“The outcome of this relationship results in deepening bilateral trade and investment by creating practical commercial partnerships between South African and Egyptian companies, while using both countries as gateways into Southern, North and wider African markets,” the department explained.
For South Africa, the Forum provided an opportunity to position the country as a key manufacturing and investment anchor within an emerging continental automotive value chain, while strengthening linkages between South African automotive producers, African markets, component manufacturers, logistics networks and sources of capital.
The Forum brought together policymakers, governments, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), component manufacturers, suppliers, investors, financiers, logistics providers and development partners to identify bankable investment opportunities, strengthen regional automotive production capabilities and advance the development of integrated continental supply chains. -SAnews.gov.za
