Egypt urges France's Casino to buy more Egyptian textiles as Monoprix plans entry

Egypt's Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Mohamed Farid, has asked French companies to make greater use of Egyptian suppliers, with textiles and ready-made garments among the sectors named, Ahram Online reported on 29 September. The talks took place on the sidelines of the Egyptian-French Business Forum, a one-day event that opened on 28 September and brought together about 200 companies, institutions and experts.

In a meeting with Casino Group, whose activities span food, hypermarkets, fashion, beauty, home décor and leisure goods, the minister discussed the French group's plans to open the first two branches of its convenience-store chain and of its Monoprix subsidiary in Egypt. According to Ahram Online, the discussions also covered increasing reliance on Egyptian suppliers and manufacturers, especially in the food, textile and ready-made garment sectors, as well as opportunities to expand exports and reach African markets.

Egypt as a hub for European buyers

Addressing the forum, Farid urged French firms to use Egypt as a production, investment and export hub linking Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and pointed to the country's access to more than 100 markets. He also met French financial institutions including Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, BNP Paribas and Amundi.

Trade between Egypt and France reached about €3.08 billion in 2025, with Egyptian exports to France at roughly €1.22 billion, Ahram Online reported. The cumulative stock of French investment in Egypt stands at around $8.5 billion.

What it means for Egyptian exporters

The government is using retail investment talks to open sourcing doors for local manufacturers. A French retailer entering the Egyptian market with a fashion and home offer is a natural candidate to buy from Egyptian garment and home-textile factories, first for local stores and potentially for its wider network. Exporters targeting France should follow the Casino and Monoprix plans closely and make sure their compliance and product offer are ready for European retail standards. No sourcing agreement has been announced so far.