Cairo: SiltaNews – News Desk
Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El-Khatib chaired on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, the 4th session of the Council of Trade Ministers of the Developing Eight (D-8) countries, held in Cairo with the participation of the trade ministers of member states, the Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization, and official delegations.
In his opening remarks, the minister expressed his deep appreciation for Egypt’s hosting of this important ministerial gathering, noting that the convening of the Council reflects the member states’ firm commitment to strengthening economic and trade cooperation and exploring new opportunities for development and investment that support prosperity across the region.
El-Khatib emphasized the need for member states to unite in addressing global shifts in international trade and value chains, stressing that these rapid changes require more flexible and adaptive policies to enhance trade integration and promote sustainable growth among the D-8 countries.
He highlighted the rich cultural heritage, diverse traditions and abundant resources of the D-8 member states, noting that working collectively under the umbrella of the organization presents a unique opportunity to leverage shared capabilities, open new pathways for trade and investment, and raise living standards across the group.
The minister noted that intra-D-8 trade reached approximately $150 billion in 2024, underscoring the importance of intensifying joint efforts to increase these levels in a manner that reflects the significant economic potential of the member states.
El-Khatib explained that Egypt’s priorities during its presidency of the D-8 focused on several key pillars, including deepening trade integration, promoting investment, supporting sustainable development, leveraging innovation and technology, building institutional and human capacities, improving infrastructure, and strengthening governance frameworks.
He stated that Egypt has worked to ensure that the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement becomes an active and effective platform for economic cooperation, with particular emphasis on fully implementing the agreement and advancing the Trade Facilitation Strategy- including establishing a binding timeline and operationalizing the Dispute Settlement Committee.
The minister affirmed Egypt’s commitment to completing its ratification of the Preferential Trade Agreement in the near future and notifying the Secretariat immediately thereafter. He also stressed the importance of launching the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) working group, expanding the scope of the agreement, and discussing priorities for the coming phase with the goal of raising intra-D-8 trade to $500 billion by 2030 in line with the group’s agreed roadmap.
El-Khatib further underscored the importance of supporting small and medium enterprises and empowering youth, highlighting the need to move forward with the establishment of the Regional Seed Bank and exploring the development of a strategic reserve of essential commodities to strengthen food security among member states.
He added that broadening cooperation requires organizing trade forums and facilitating delegation exchanges aimed at stimulating investment and promoting direct engagement between private sector actors in member states, thereby opening new avenues for sustainable economic growth.
These initiatives, he noted, will help diversify trade baskets, attract intra-group investments, create job opportunities, and advance sustainable development across all D-8 countries, supported by transparent and effective follow-up on recommendations and outcomes. The minister expressed his gratitude to all member states for their active participation and continued support for the organization’s mission, expressing hope that the discussions will yield tangible results that reinforce the role of the D-8 and benefit all member nations.
He also commended the pivotal role played by the organization in enhancing economic and trade cooperation among its members, reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to working collectively toward a more prosperous and sustainable future for all peoples of the Developing Eight (D-8) countries.