Shoukry receives AU Commission delegation Monday

CAIRO - 21 May 2019: Minister of Foreign Affairs SamehShoukry received Monday the delegation of the African Union Commission to provide an offer for hosting the headquarter of the Secretariat of the African Free Trade Agreement(AFTA).

The meeting was attended by the advisor to the chairperson of the African Union Commission on Integration and Regional Integration, according to a statement issued by spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, Ahmed Hafez.

Hafez's statement added that the meeting comes within the framework of Egypt's keenness to promote joint African action among African brothers.

For his side, Shoukry stressed that Egypt attaches importance to hosting the secretariat's headquarters as the Free Trade Agreement is one of the main axes of African integration, asserting its importance in promoting trade between the countries of the continent.

Shoukry pointed out that Egypt was one of the first countries to accede to the African Free Trade Agreement and ratified it in March 2019, according to the statement.

The delegation expressed the importance of joint African action to promote the continent and realize the aspirations of its peoples in the field of development, stressing the need to strengthen cooperation in economic fields and launch regional economic projects.