We can never deny our African roots and we have to remember that there is a vein coming to us from the heart of Africa, namely the River Nile which carries growth and pillars of civilization. Hence, there should be a strategy based on boosting ties and cooperation relations in the different fields. The African countries which suffer from poverty still possess immense natural wealth which requires establishing many infrastructure projects. And if Egypt is qualified to help establish these projects, it can participate with the other international organizations in providing investments to fund them.

 

While handling this issue, we have to admit that the African-Egyptian relations witnessed in some stages the lack of due interest as we sank into our internal issues and those of the Arab world. On the other hand, the African countries have not given up backing our national issues and sided with us in the international forums despite their hard circumstances.

 

In this context, we should hail the visit which President Mubarak paid to Ghana to participate in the opening session of the African Union Summit in Accra. In fact, the President's visit provides an opportunity to boost the African-Egyptian communication. No doubt, it is available to increase cooperation with the African countries via our membership in the political and economic groupings. This is besides developing trade exchange and the participation of Egyptian contracting companies and engineering consultation bureaus in carrying out construction enterprises.