Egypt and South Africa have taken a significant step towards deepening their economic relationship with the launch of the Joint Egypt–South Africa Business Council on the margins of the inaugural Alamein Africa Business Forum in New Alamein, Egypt.
The establishment of the Council represents an important development in bilateral economic cooperation, creating a platform through which businesses from both countries can strengthen commercial relationships, identify investment opportunities and develop partnerships capable of contributing to broader African economic integration.
The Council was launched during a high-level programme focused on strengthening Egypt–South Africa cooperation in the automotive and wider economic sectors. The Alamein Africa Forum, held from 2–4 October 2026, brought together African political leaders, ministers, business executives, investors and financial institutions to advance practical partnerships across the continent. DTIC
A Long-Held Vision Becomes Reality
The launch of the Business Council follows years of efforts to establish a dedicated mechanism for closer engagement between the Egyptian and South African business communities.
Speaking about the milestone, H.E. Ambassador Ahmed Sharief, Ambassador of Egypt to South Africa, Botswana and Lesotho, described the establishment of the Council as a long-held ambition and an important first step towards closer business-to-business cooperation.
The Council is expected to help translate the strong political and diplomatic relationship between Egypt and South Africa into tangible commercial opportunities for companies in both markets.
This comes at a time when bilateral economic relations are showing positive momentum. According to figures cited by South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), direct bilateral trade increased by 26%, from R3.4 billion in 2024 to R4.3 billion in 2025, while South African exports to Egypt increased by 21%, from R1.3 billion to R1.6 billion over the same period. DTIC
High-Level Participation
The launch brought together senior government representatives from Egypt and South Africa, highlighting the strategic importance attached to strengthening economic relations between the two countries.
Among those participating were H.E. Dr Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Dr Mohamed Farid Saleh, Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, H.E. Eng. Khaled Hashem, Egypt’s Minister of Industry, and H.E. Parks Tau, South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
The programme also provided an opportunity for government and business leaders to examine practical areas in which the two economies can work together, particularly in sectors with potential to generate investment, employment and expanded market access.
Unlocking Opportunities Across Key Sectors
The Business Council is expected to provide a platform for cooperation across a range of strategic sectors.
These include:
- Mining and mineral resources
- Automotive manufacturing and new-energy mobility
- Agriculture and agro-processing
- Manufacturing
- Renewable energy and green industries
- Pharmaceuticals
- Transport and logistics
- Ports and infrastructure
- Engineering and industrial development
Egyptian officials have also highlighted the importance of strengthening logistics links between the northern and southern parts of Africa, including opportunities involving shipping routes, ports and the Suez Canal. EgyptToday
For South African businesses, stronger commercial links with Egypt could provide additional access not only to the Egyptian market, but also to wider markets in North Africa, the Middle East and the Horn of Africa.
Supporting African Economic Integration
The significance of the Business Council extends beyond the bilateral relationship.
Egypt and South Africa are two of Africa’s major economies and play influential roles in continental economic affairs. Strengthening commercial links between them can contribute to the development of African value chains and support the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Alamein Africa Forum itself was established as a permanent African business forum, with the inaugural edition bringing together government leaders, financial institutions, investors and business leaders around opportunities in sectors ranging from infrastructure and trade to energy, digital innovation and manufacturing. Alamein Africa Forum
The Business Council therefore comes at a strategic moment as African countries increasingly seek to move beyond traditional trade relationships towards joint ventures, investment partnerships, manufacturing cooperation and integrated regional value chains.
A Platform for the Private Sector
At its core, the Council provides an opportunity to place the private sector at the centre of the next phase of Egypt–South Africa economic relations.
The platform can assist businesses in identifying potential partners, developing joint ventures, exploring investment opportunities and addressing practical barriers to doing business across the two markets.
For South African SMMEs and larger enterprises, closer engagement with Egypt could also create opportunities to participate in regional value chains and expand their presence in markets beyond Southern Africa.
The Council’s formation also aligns with broader efforts to translate diplomatic relationships into measurable economic outcomes.
From Political Relations to Commercial Partnerships
The launch of the Egypt–South Africa Business Council demonstrates the growing recognition that strong diplomatic relations must increasingly be complemented by business-to-business partnerships and market-access opportunities.
As Africa continues to pursue deeper economic integration, stronger connections between major markets such as Egypt and South Africa can play an important role in supporting investment, industrialisation, innovation and intra-African trade.
The establishment of the Council is therefore more than the creation of another bilateral platform. It represents an opportunity to build a practical bridge between businesses in North and Southern Africa and to transform existing diplomatic goodwill into commercially sustainable partnerships.
As Ambassador Ahmed Sharief noted, the launch is an important milestone — but only the beginning.
A New Chapter in Egypt–South Africa Economic Relations
The Egypt–South Africa Business Council now has the opportunity to become an important vehicle for strengthening bilateral trade and investment, supporting private-sector cooperation and contributing to Africa’s wider economic transformation.
With the momentum generated at the Alamein Africa Business Forum, the focus will now shift towards turning the Council’s establishment into concrete business relationships, investment projects and market opportunities for companies in both countries.
The launch signals a clear message: Egypt and South Africa are looking beyond diplomatic relations towards deeper economic partnership and shared growth across Africa.
