A New Step Toward Economic Integration… The Egyptian-Djiboutian Business Council Holds Its Meeting in Cairo Under the Chairmanship of Eng. Hany Dahy
Eng. Hany Dahy: Egyptian Companies Possess the Expertise and Capabilities to Support Djibouti’s Development Plans and Advance African Economic Integration
Eng. Hany Dahy, Former Minister of Transport, Chairman and Managing Director of Abu Qir Fertilizers and Chemical Industries Company, and Chairman of the Egyptian Side of the Egyptian–Djiboutian Business Council, chaired the Council’s meeting held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade on Monday, 27 July 2026. The meeting was convened within the framework of ongoing efforts to strengthen economic and investment cooperation between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Djibouti, in line with the political leadership’s directives to deepen economic ties with African countries, reinforce the strategic partnership between the two nations, and advance bilateral relations toward broader horizons of cooperation and sustainable development.
The meeting was attended by H.E. Ambassador Ahmed Ali Berri, Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States, together with a high-level Djiboutian delegation headed by Mr. Youssouf Doualeh, President of the Djibouti Chamber of Commerce. The meeting also brought together senior government officials and representatives of the public and private sectors from both countries. Mr. Walid El Zomor, Director of African Affairs at the Egyptian Commercial Service, also participated, reflecting the strong institutional support for the Council’s efforts to promote Egyptian-African economic relations.
Participants from both sides reaffirmed the importance of enhancing economic, trade, and investment cooperation, strengthening partnerships between the Egyptian and Djiboutian business communities, and increasing bilateral trade. Particular emphasis was placed on priority sectors, including infrastructure, ports, logistics, transportation, construction, and new and renewable energy.
In his remarks, Eng. Hany Dahy emphasized that Egyptian companies possess extensive expertise and outstanding technical and engineering capabilities that qualify them to play an effective role in implementing development projects in the Republic of Djibouti. He highlighted Egypt’s remarkable achievements in executing major national projects over recent years, describing them as a successful development model that can contribute to supporting sustainable development efforts across African countries.
He further noted that strengthening economic cooperation between Egypt and Djibouti represents an important step toward achieving African economic integration. He stressed the importance of encouraging the private sectors in both countries to establish sustainable investment partnerships that create new opportunities for growth and development.
The two sides also discussed a number of strategic initiatives aimed at expanding bilateral economic cooperation, most notably the establishment of a free zone at the Port of Djibouti to serve as a logistics hub and regional gateway for Egyptian exports to East African markets. Discussions also covered the establishment of a permanent exhibition for Egyptian products representing various industrial sectors, with the objective of expanding the presence of Egyptian products, increasing bilateral trade, and creating new opportunities for joint investments.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides underscored the importance of maintaining close coordination to implement the Business Council’s outcomes, organizing reciprocal visits by Egyptian and Djiboutian business delegations, activating the agreed initiatives and memoranda of understanding, and establishing effective follow-up mechanisms to ensure tangible results that support sustainable development, promote economic integration, and further strengthen the strategic partnership between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Djibouti.
