The volume of trade exchange between Egypt and the US reached $5.6 billion in 2017, recording the top trade exchange in Africa, and the sixth highest trade exchange volume in the Middle East, said Egypt’s petroleum minister, Tarek El Molla, Egypt Oil & Gas reports.

The US is one of the main economic partners in Egypt and the biggest direct investor in the North African country, El Molla pointed out during the extended meeting with the US Business Mission to Egypt.

El Molla said that 2017 and 2018 were exceptional for the petroleum sector, and that the ministry is doing its best to attract more foreign investments needed to meet the country’s ambitious Vision 2030 targets.

The meeting was held by the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, under the title “A Shared Future.”