The African Group at the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously decided to re-elect Egypt, represented by the Egyptian Commercial Service Office of the permanent mission of Egypt in Geneva, to be a focal point for the continental group with regards to negotiations on agriculture and export of non-agricultural goods to foreign markets, according to Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Tarek Kabil.
Kabil pointed out that electing Egypt at this time to lead the African Group is a renewal of African confidence in Egypt, especially in light of the changes witnessed in the multilateral trading system and the escalation of protectionist tendencies in developed countries, which will further complicate the next rounds of trade negotiations.
Minister plenipotentiary and head of the Egyptian Commercial Service, Ahmed Antar, said that Egypt, in addition to being a focal point for negotiations on agricultural issues and non-agricultural goods export in the African Group, is also a coordinator of the group of developing countries, who are net food importer. Moreover, Egypt will also be a key player on agriculture negotiations in the Arab Group of the WTO.
