Minister of Trade and Industry Eng. Amr Nassar announced that 49 African countries signed the Free Trade Area Agreement, pointing out that Egypt is also about to sign during the coming period.

He added during the African trade ministers’ conference on the sidelines of the intra-African Trade Fair that there are potential opportunities in the intra-regional trade in Africa such as increasing economic growth rates.

 He pointed out the importance of enhancing the continent competitiveness and achieving sustainable development goals.

The President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Dr. Benedict Oramah said that despite the world's Doubts about the free trade agreement signed last March, we must prove our ability to implement it, especially since the holding of the Inter-African Trade Fair is the first achievement of the agreement.

Oramah also announced launching a payment platform at the bank that allows handling the Local Currency of each African country, which will contribute to increasing the trade and exchange rate among the African countries, moreover launching a "web portal" that will include African countries’ and companies’ information on their trade opportunities.