The Arab Women Investors Union hosted the Arab-Asian Trade and Investment Forum in Cairo on July 9, 2026, convening Egyptian and Sri Lankan officials and business leaders to explore strategic partnerships, expand trade and attract investment. Organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Sri Lanka, the forum centered on identifying new export markets, promoting advanced industry localization and strengthening economic cooperation between Egypt and Sri Lanka, where bilateral trade currently stands at about $270 million annually. "The forum aims to open new export markets, localize advanced industries and deepen cooperation with Asian economies," said Hoda Yassa , chairwoman of the Arab Women Investors Union, emphasizing the event’s focus on practical economic linkages and joint ventures. Sri Lankan Ambassador Sisira Senaviratne outlined priority sectors for potential bilateral investment and collaboration, pointing to opportunities in textiles, technology, fertilizers, infrastructure and tourism. Delegates at the forum discussed how combining Egypt’s market access and industrial base with Sri Lankan capabilities could unlock new value chains across those sectors. Forum objectives and participation The event, held with the backing of the Sri Lankan embassy in Cairo, assembled public and private stakeholders to map concrete steps for deepening trade ties. Organizers described the agenda as oriented toward three core objectives: Expanding trade flows and opening new export markets for both countries; Attracting direct investment and facilitating joint ventures in manufacturing and services; Localizing advanced industries through technology transfer and capacity building. Speakers and attendees explored sector-specific opportunities. In textiles, discussions focused on leveraging Sri Lanka’s apparel expertise alongside Egyptian manufacturing scale. In technology, participants examined collaboration on IT services and digital solutions that serve regional markets. Infrast…