Egypt Eyes Chinese Market Opportunities as Guest of Honour at Guangzhou SME Expo
Ahmed Emam
Egypt is looking to strengthen economic ties and carve out a greater presence in the Chinese market as it takes center stage as Guest of Honour at the International Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Expo in Guangzhou, running from June 27 to 30.
Leading the Egyptian delegation, Basil Rahmy, CEO of Egypt's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), and Essam El-Naggar, Commercial Minister Plenipotentiary and Chairman of the General Organization for Exhibitions and Fairs, held a series of high-level meetings with Chinese officials and business leaders on the sidelines of the expo.
The talks focused on deepening cooperation between the two countries, with Egypt hoping to tap into China's renowned expertise in building a robust SME sector—a cornerstone of China's economic rise that has created millions of jobs and fueled industrial growth.
'We're exploring how Egypt can benefit from China's successful model, particularly in industrial and manufacturing projects,' Rahmy said, noting that Egypt's government is prioritizing the development of the SME sector as a key driver of economic growth, job creation, and reduced reliance on imports.
This focus aligns with directives from Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to harness the potential of Egypt's SMEs in boosting investment opportunities, localizing industries, securing supply chains, and raising product quality to global standards—efforts that could enhance Egypt's competitiveness both domestically and in export markets.
El-Naggar underscored that Egypt's participation as Guest of Honour reflects the growing depth of economic relations between Cairo and Beijing. 'Trade ties between our countries are continuously evolving. Egypt is keen to attract more Chinese investment and identify new paths for Egyptian products to enter the Chinese market,' he said.
He noted that Egypt's presence at the expo—which hosts hundreds of companies from around the world—provides valuable exposure and opportunities for Egyptian enterprises to build partnerships and expand their footprint.
'There's significant potential for Egyptian small businesses to supply goods and services to the Chinese market. This would not only give these businesses access to one of the world's largest economies but also help them innovate, develop new products, and scale up production,' he said.
He praised the support provided by Egypt's Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, which has worked closely with MSMEDA to enable Egyptian companies to participate in major international trade events.
'Participation in global expos is critical for opening new markets and showcasing the high quality and diversity of Egyptian products,' Rahmy asserted.
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