Egypt, Azerbaijan Prepare for Joint Committee Session to Boost Economic, Investment Ties

Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat, held talks with  Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, to discuss preparations for the upcoming sixth session of the Egypt–Azerbaijan Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation, scheduled to take place in Cairo in October.

During the meeting, Al-Mashat emphasized that the Joint Committee represents a key mechanism for expanding cooperation between the two countries and strengthening private sector partnerships. She highlighted the importance of convening the Egypt–Azerbaijan Business Forum, which will be held alongside the committee’s meetings, as a platform to connect Egyptian and Azerbaijani companies and explore new investment opportunities.

The Minister underscored the depth of historical relations between Egypt and Azerbaijan, recalling the state visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Cairo in June 2024, which witnessed the signing of seven agreements across various sectors, including economic development, digital transformation, youth and sports, electricity, oil and gas, and investment promotion. She pointed in particular to promising cooperation in pharmaceutical manufacturing in Azerbaijan’s Alat Free Economic Zone, as well as opportunities in renewable energy, green hydrogen, ammonia production, and electricity interconnection projects.

Preparations for the sixth session of the Joint Committee are expected to focus on broadening bilateral cooperation in renewable energy, tourism, culture, higher education, health, trade, and investment. The session will be co-chaired by Dr. Al-Mashat on the Egyptian side and Mr. Rashad Nabiyev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport, on the Azerbaijani side.

Al-Mashat also drew attention to the “Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development: Reforms for Growth, Jobs & Resilience,” the government’s integrated framework for 2024/2025–2026/2027, which aligns with Egypt’s Vision 2030. She noted that the reform program aims to consolidate macroeconomic stability, boost competitiveness, and expand the role of the private sector in driving growth.

The discussions further touched on the outcomes of COP29, hosted by Azerbaijan, and the importance of its conclusions in supporting developing countries’ efforts to address climate change.

Al-Mashat concluded by affirming Egypt’s commitment to leveraging the complementarities of both economies to advance joint development goals, expand trade and investment, and strengthen ties between the peoples of Egypt and Azerbaijan.