Egypt on Monday received the presidency of the Council of Ministers of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) succeeding Tanzania, during the 16th meeting of the council held in Kinshasa, Congo. Assuming the presidency of the AfCFTA officially attests to Egypt’s pioneering role in supporting African economic integration. Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan el-Khatib delivered a recorded speech at the 16th meeting of the AfCFTA ‘sCouncil of Trade Ministers. Eng. Mohamed el- Gossaki, Assistant Minister for Planning, Development, and Digital Transformation, assumed the presidency of the Council, representing the Egypt and North Africa region. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo delivered the keynote address at the opening session. During his speech, the Egyptian minister of trade said Egypt attaches great importance to activating the AfCFTA agreement and accelerating itsimplementation. Khatib emphasized the need to conclude pending technical negotiations, especially talks related to the rules of origin for vital sectors such as clothing and automobiles, to ensure industrial integration and enhance intra-trade. The minister also called for holding a specialized ministerial session in Egypt to resolve all pendingtechnical points. Khatib proposed developing a short-term roadmap to achieve tangible results that serve the interests of all member states, emphasizing Egypt’s full commitment to supporting implementation of the agreement and working with African countries in a spirit of partnership and integration. Egypt actively participated in the preparatory meetings that preceded the Council, including bilateral meetings with strategic partners, highlighting the importance of developing logistical connectivity, infrastructure and financing, with a view to supporting continental trade. The assistant minister for planning, development and digital transformationalso held a number of bilateral meetings with a number of African trade ministers on the sidelines of their participation in the event, including the ministers of Trade of Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa. The meetings addressed Egypt’s emphasis on the importance of strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation in important sectors including logistical connectivity, financing facilities and infrastructure. All efforts come within the framework of the Egyptian strategy to enhance regional integration and create shared economic opportunities. Egypt also affirmed its full commitment to supporting the comprehensive implementation of the AfCFTA , through its active participation in all negotiation rounds, contributing to the development of customs tariff schedules and its efforts to promote intra-African trade. Egypt’s current chairmanship of the Council of Ministers of Trade is an extension of its active role in the process of since its inception, as well as its support for initiatives emanating from it. Egypt’s membership in the agreement also contributes to opening new markets, particularly in West and Central African countries, particularly in the industrial and agricultural sectors, in light of ongoing coordination with the general secretariat to harmonize trade policies and activate dispute settlement mechanisms to ensure effective implementation. Hisham el-Makoud, Egypt’s ambassador to Congo, Gomaa Madani, head of the Central Administration for African Trade Relations at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and Ahmed Manji, Second Secretary of Commercial Affairs and head of the Trade Representation Office in Kinshasa took part in the handover ceremony.