Egypt and Djibouti Sign Trade Protocol to Boost Bilateral Market Access

Overview of the Agreement

The Egyptian Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade announced on Wednesday that Egypt and Djibouti have signed a framework agreement protocol designed to boost bilateral trade and create new opportunities for businesses from both countries.

The signing took place at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, where Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Mohamed Farid Saleh, met with Djibouti’s Minister of Trade and Tourism, Orbis Hiilaf Orbis.

The agreement underscores Djibouti’s strategic location at the entrance to the Red Sea, which offers access to Horn of Africa markets.

Statements from the Ministers

Farid stated that Egypt is committed to supporting economic integration and encouraging bilateral investments in shared priority sectors. He noted that Egypt’s diverse manufacturing and export base is capable of supplying the Djiboutian market with pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, agricultural goods, food, electronics, and engineering products.

The Egyptian minister also emphasised the importance of further activating the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreements to maximise available commercial advantages.

Orbis said the protocol represents a significant step in strengthening economic ties, noting that Djibouti’s strategic location at the entrance to the Red Sea offers Egyptian products and investments promising access to markets in the Horn of Africa.

The Djiboutian minister affirmed his country’s commitment to removing trade and investment barriers, facilitating market access, and expanding cooperation across the trade, industry, agriculture, food security, and tourism sectors to build sustainable economic partnerships.

Attendees at the Signing

Those present at the ceremony included Djibouti’s Ambassador to Egypt, Ahmed Ali Bari; Essam El-Naggar, chairman of the General Organization for Export and Import Control; Abdulaziz El Sherif, head of the Egyptian Commercial Service; and Amani El-Wassal, head of the Trade Agreements Sector at the ministry.