Egypt & Slovenia Strengthen Economic Ties in Bilateral Cooperation Talks

On Monday, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry embarked on a visit to Ljubljana, where he engaged in discussions with Slovenia's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Tanja Fajon. These talks set the stage for the second round of the Joint Economic Cooperation Committee between Egypt and Slovenia, culminating in the signing of a joint committee session protocol by both foreign ministers.

During the meeting, Minister Shoukry lauded the exceptional bilateral relations between the two nations, expressing Egypt's keen interest in further enhancing these ties. He emphasized Egypt's historical recognition of Slovenia post-independence, making it the first Arab and African country to do so, and maintaining a resident representation in Ljubljana since 2007.

The discussions explored avenues for boosting economic and trade cooperation, highlighting investment opportunities in Egypt, including its industrial zones and new cities. The talks also delved into potential joint ventures in sectors where Slovenia has a comparative advantage, alongside enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas such as information technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, agriculture, water management, education, and culture.

Moreover, the dialogue touched upon enhancing cooperation in port management beyond the existing collaboration between the ports of Koper and Alexandria. The talks also underscored Egypt's focus on clean and renewable energy sectors, including natural gas liquefaction projects aimed at Europe and the ongoing electrical interconnection projects with certain European countries.

The discussions further extended to tourism cooperation, with Minister Shoukry highlighting Egypt's interest in increasing Slovenian tourist flow to Egyptian destinations, facilitated by charter flights between Slovenia and Egyptian cities like Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada.

Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid noted Egypt's appreciation for Slovenia's supportive stance within the European Union, reflecting a deep understanding of Egypt's transformative journey and the challenges it faces. Minister Shoukry also expressed Egypt's anticipation for further coordination with Slovenia, especially in the context of the Union for the Mediterranean and Slovenia's upcoming non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council for the 2024-2025 term.