This came in the meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, which is currently being held in Kazan, Russia, from 22 to 24 October.

During the meeting, they also highlighted the two countries' efforts to prevent Israeli violations in the West Bank and support establishing an independent Palestinian state, aiming to achieve regional security and stability.

Moreover, both presidents also stressed the urgent need for humanitarian aid delivery to the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.

Meanwhile, President Ramaphosa expressed gratitude for Egypt's vital role in delivering aid to Gaza.

El-Sisi and Ramaphosa underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral relations between their countries and advancing cooperation across political, economic, and security levels.

Furthermore, they discussed strategies to promote African development priorities on the global agenda and within the BRICS bloc.

Egypt and South Africa are members of the 10-member economic bloc, BRICS.

Trade exchange between Egypt and South Africa increased to $217.1 million in 2021, up from $158.5 million in 2020, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

Additionally, Egyptian exports to South Africa amounted to $128.9 million.

South-South cooperation
 

El-Sisi and Ramaphosa also expressed their commitment to continuing collaboration to advance the interests of African peoples and developing countries.

Earlier on Thursday, President El-Sisi stressed the need for developing countries to unite and promote South-South cooperation to confront the ongoing global challenges.

During his speech at the BRICS Plus/Outreach format meeting, El-Sisi noted that Egypt has consistently urged fostering cooperation among developing countries.

Nearly 40 countries, including members of the BRICS group along with BRICS-friendly nations and influential international organizations, are participating in the meeting.

The overall trade exchange between Egypt and BRICS countries rose by 15 percent to $30.2 billion in the first eight months of 2024, compared to $26.2 billion during the same period in 2023.

Cairo-Cape Town road
 

Egypt has assumed a leading role in Africa, building on its historical contributions to African nations' development and preserving their cultural heritage.

As part of its strategic vision, Egypt is advancing the completion of the Cairo-Cape Town road, a significant transportation route which aims to enhance connectivity across the continent.

This ambitious project is key to strengthening trade and economic ties with African countries, including South Africa.

The Cairo-Cape Town road launched by Egypt in June 2015 is integral to the country's broader initiatives to improve regional infrastructure and trade.

The road spans 10,288 kilometres and passes through nine African countries, including Sudan, Kenya, and South Africa. It is expected to greatly facilitate trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The project, estimated to cost around $18 billion, is being implemented in four phases.