Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met on Tuesday with head of the African Development Bank (ADB) Akinwumi Adesina in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa to discuss cooperation, praising the bank's role in supporting intra-African trade and the current level of cooperation between Egypt and the bank.

The president expressed Egypt's desire to explore more areas of cooperation between Egypt and the bank during the upcoming period in light of the country's ongoing sustainable and comprehensive development efforts, especially in small and medium enterprises and supporting the country's exports in Africa.

El-Sisi also expressed Egypt's desire to encourage the bank's exposure to support national mega-projects in the country, topped by the New Administrative Capital and the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

El-Sisi also praised the bank's efforts in organising the first edition of the African Intra Trade Fair in Cairo last December in cooperation with the Egyptian government and the African Union's Commission.

The head of the ADB hailed Egypt's success in implementing its economic reform programme, which has largely contributed to the gradual improvement of the Egyptian economy and the rising economic growth rate, as well as direct foreign investments in the country.

Adesina also presented ADB plan for the upcoming period, reaffirming the bank's keenness on expanding its activities and supporting trade between Egypt and African countries.