An intense battle for the East African market is being waged in Nairobi between Israel and the United Arab Republic, the London Financial Times reported today.
A special Israel economic mission now in Nairobi is stressing the advantages to African traders of Israel’s “overland Suez” route to Europe and the west, bypassing the Suez Canal which has been closed to traffic since the first week in June. The Israelis stress the advantage of shipping cargo to Eilat and moving it from there overland to Haifa or Ashdod for transshipment.
The United Arab Republic Embassy has countered this by offering an Egyptian “overland Suez” with cargo from East Africa unloaded at a Red Sea port, trekked across the desert to the Mediterranean at Port Said for transshipment.
The Israeli mission is expected to go on from Nairobi to Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and, possibly Zambia.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
