The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) has begun processes to improve the trade facilitation procedures between Ghana and Egypt for the mutual benefit of shippers in both countries.
As a result, the GSA paid a courtesy call on the Commercial Minister Plenipotentiary in charge of Ghana-Egypt relations at the Embassy of Egypt in Accra, Aly Mohamed Basha, on 30th May 2022 to discuss areas of interest in terms of trade facilitation between both countries.
The Head of Shipper Services and Trade Facilitation of the GSA Mrs. Monica Josiah briefed H.E Mohamed Basha on the efforts by the GSA to improve trade relations between the two countries. She also used the opportunity to sensitize him on the GSA’s mandate.
She reiterated calls by industry players for Africa to come up with a liner vessel to serve the continent as it would be key to supporting the ongoing implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).
“We have noticed that shipping inter-connectivity within Africa is very low and that is affecting the whole continent; currently if I have to ship goods to Egypt, I may have to do so through another country and this is worrying,” she said.
H.E Aly Mohamed Basha was grateful for the visit and the information on the shipping and logistics industry. According to him, trade ties between both countries can be boosted through collaboration and the meeting has provided the avenue to forge a relationship.
In 2020, Ghana exported $12.3 million worth of goods to Egypt. The main products exported from Ghana to Egypt were Cocoa Paste ($8.07M), Cocoa Powder ($1.2M), and Machinery Having Individual Functions ($811k). During the last 25 years exports from Ghana to Egypt increased at an annualized rate of 12.6%, from $633 thousand in 1995 to $12.3 million in 2020.
Egypt Exports to Ghana was US$128.59 Million during 2021, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.
Statistics from the Ghana Shippers’ Authority indicates that a total of 1,220 metric tonnes of commodities were exported from Ghana to Egypt in 2021. Cocoa products constituted the largest of the export (834 metric tonnes) followed by Machinery and other equipment (192 metric tonnes), Cocoa Beans (104 metric tonnes ) and General Cargo (89 metric tonnes).
It is expected that greater collaboration would see exponential growth in the trade figures in the coming years.
