Egypt launched an initiative "Egypt-Lebanon to Africa" aiming to include in a later phase other Arab countries to be the center of an Arab-African integration project, Egyptian Trade and Industry Minister Tareq Qabil said.

Giving a word to the Arab Economic Forum in Beirut on Thursday, Qabil said the initiative took its institutional shape after the success of a mission of Egyptian exporters of construction materials to Lebanon in February to target African markets through Lebanese businesspersons active in the continent.

The initiative is supported by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, he said.