Arab Finance: The Export Development Bank of Egypt (EBank) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) to strengthen cooperation and improve the competitiveness of Egyptian exports in international markets, as per an emailed press release.
The agreement was signed during the fourth edition of Export Smart 2026, where EBank participated as the official banking sponsor. Organized by Go Global, the conference focused on Africa without borders and turning the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) into business opportunities.
The partnership aims to integrate banking and financial services with export oversight and quality-control systems, simplifying export procedures and helping Egyptian companies expand into African markets. It also seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of Egyptian products and enable businesses to benefit from AfCFTA opportunities.
In his opening remarks, Ahmed Galal, EBank’s CEO and Managing Director, identified outdated information and perceptions of African markets as a significant obstacle to Egyptian companies’ expansion across the continent. He said some of those perceptions date back as far as 30 years, underscoring the need for current information on trade and investment opportunities.
Galal urged companies to understand the characteristics and actual requirements of individual markets rather than rely on assumptions that no longer reflect conditions on the ground.
Expanding Egyptian exports to Africa requires more than supplying products or financing transactions, he said. Businesses also need reliable information, training, advisory services, risk management and access to trusted trading partners to identify suitable opportunities and make informed decisions about international expansion.
He called for greater emphasis on building lasting business relationships in African markets. This requires studying customer needs, understanding regulatory requirements and competition, and developing ties with local partners.
Overseas visits and direct engagement with institutions and other stakeholders in African countries are also essential, Galal said, because they can reveal opportunities and provide insights unavailable through general market data alone.
He highlighted the need for closer coordination between banks, government bodies, and regulatory and quality-control authorities to make the export process easier and strengthen the competitiveness of Egyptian goods. EBank supports exporters through its Export Club unit at every stage, from identifying business opportunities to arranging financing and completing transactions, he added.
