Global protectionist policies are creating opportunities for African nations to attract industrial investment by encouraging companies to reshore activities to the continent, Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation said on Wednesday. “Protectionist policies are creating real opportunities for African countries and enhancing their ability to attract industrial investment,” Al-Mashat said, noting that these shifts encourage the relocation of economic activities to exploit Africa’s large market size and available skills. The zone integrates industrial production with logistics services to facilitate the import of inputs, value addition, and re-export to African markets. “Resilience is no longer a defensive concept, but rather a fundamental requirement for attracting investment and enhancing productivity and competitiveness,” Al-Mashat said. She added that Egypt’s growth trajectory is now measuredby the quality, sustainability, and structure of growth rather than solely by gross domestic product expansion rates.

Source: Daily News Egypt January 21, 2026 17:57 UTC