As part of the promotion for the African Summit, Ambassador Mohamed Abu Bakr is touring the African continent.

Ambassador Mohamed Abu Bakr, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriate Affairs in Africa, has begun an extensive diplomatic tour that includes a number of African countries, primarily aimed at promoting Egypt’s hosting of the African Union’s mid-year summit, scheduled to be held in the new city of El Alamein.

In order to strengthen Egypt’s leading role within the African continent, Ambassador Abu Bakr chose the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, as the first stop on his tour, which reflects the depth and special nature of the bilateral relations that unite Cairo and Nairobi, and the shared keenness to coordinate positions on major continental issues.

Strengthening economic partnerships

The visit was not limited to the political and organizational aspects of the upcoming summit, but focused intensively on the economic file, as the ambassador held a series of high-level meetings, starting with a meeting with Regina Akoth-Ombam, Undersecretary of the Kenyan Ministry of Trade, and Carol Kariuki, CEO of the Kenyan Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA). The discussions addressed mechanisms for enhancing trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, and opening new horizons for investors in both markets.

Business diplomacy

In a related context, the Ambassador met with prominent members of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including Ms. Cynthia Nyawara, Head of the Economic Diplomacy Department. Discussions focused on removing obstacles to intra-Kenya trade and capitalizing on the promising opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Among the most prominent objectives of the tour are promoting the city of El Alamein’s hosting of the African Union’s mid-year summit, strengthening bilateral relations with key countries on the continent, and raising the level of trade exchange and economic cooperation with the Kenyan side.