Egypt, Slovenia Discuss Expanding Economic Ties and Advancing Gaza Peace Efforts

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a telephone conversation on Tuesday with Slovenia’s newly appointed Foreign Minister and Minister for European Affairs, Toni Krajcer, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange views on key regional and international developments.

At the start of the call, Abdelatty congratulated his Slovenian counterpart on assuming office and expressed Egypt’s interest in deepening cooperation across political, economic, trade and investment sectors.

The Egyptian foreign minister welcomed the outcomes of the second session of the Egyptian-Slovenian Joint Economic Committee, which was held in Ljubljana in 2024 under the co-chairmanship of the two countries’ foreign ministers. He also voiced hope that Cairo would host the committee’s third session later this year, further advancing economic and commercial cooperation between the two nations.

During the discussions, Abdelatty outlined opportunities to increase Egyptian exports to European Union markets through Slovenia and highlighted the potential launch of a new maritime shipping route to facilitate the movement of Egyptian goods into Europe.

The two ministers also explored prospects for expanding cooperation in the ports sector. Discussions focused on building upon the existing partnership between the Port of Koper and Alexandria Port and extending cooperation to additional Egyptian ports, including Ain Sokhna and Damietta.

Regional developments, particularly the Palestinian issue, featured prominently in the talks. Abdelatty stressed the importance of implementing the commitments of the first phase of President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan. He said the plan should ensure full and sustainable humanitarian access to Gaza while supporting early recovery efforts and the rehabilitation of essential infrastructure and public services in the territory.

The Egyptian minister also reiterated the importance of advancing a two-state solution, calling for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with relevant international resolutions.

For his part, the Slovenian foreign minister praised the positive momentum in relations between Egypt and Slovenia and affirmed his country’s commitment to expanding cooperation across various sectors.

He stressed the importance of enhancing economic relations in a way that reflects the growing strength of bilateral ties, particularly in maritime transport and port development. He also highlighted opportunities to improve air connectivity and increase direct flights between the two countries.

The conversation reflected the growing partnership between Cairo and Ljubljana, as both sides seek to broaden economic cooperation while coordinating on regional issues, including efforts to support peace, stability and humanitarian relief in the Middle East.