Exclusive Interview: Georgian Ambassador Outlines Future of Cairo–Tbilisi Relations

As part of the celebrations marking the National Day of Georgia, Editor-in-Chief of "SeeNews", Mohamed Wadie Ghazy, conducted an exclusive interview with Georgian Ambassador to Egypt Nikoloz Apkhazava to discuss the current state and future prospects of bilateral relations between Egypt and Georgia.

The interview shed light on the steadily growing partnership between Cairo and Tbilisi across political, economic, cultural, and educational sectors, as both countries seek to strengthen cooperation amid evolving regional and global geopolitical dynamics.

Ambassador Apkhazava highlighted the importance of enhancing people-to-people ties, expanding trade and investment opportunities, and boosting parliamentary and diplomatic coordination between the two nations.

The discussion also explored promising sectors for bilateral investment, including renewable energy, tourism, logistics, digital transformation, and infrastructure development, while emphasizing Georgia’s strategic role as a gateway between Europe and Asia and Egypt’s position as a major regional hub connecting Africa and the Middle East.

Below is the full interview:

Q1: How do you evaluate the current state of diplomatic relations between Tbilisi and Cairo, and what are your top priorities as Georgia’s Ambassador to Egypt?

-Georgia and Egypt established diplomatic relations in 1992, and next year we will celebrate the 35th anniversary of our bilateral ties. The Georgian mission in Cairo opened its doors in 1998, and it is both an honor and privilege to serve as Ambassador of Georgia to Egypt.

Over the years, relations between our two countries have steadily and dynamically developed. In February this year, the 8th round of bilateral consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Georgia and Egypt was held in the New Administrative Capital. Officials from both sides exchanged views on bilateral relations, regional developments, and potential areas for future cooperation.

Our priority is to further strengthen political, economic, and cultural ties. We hope to see more exchanges between government officials, parliamentarians, investors, students, and travelers from both countries.

Most importantly, we look forward to the establishment of the long-awaited Egyptian diplomatic mission in Tbilisi, which would undoubtedly boost bilateral cooperation across all sectors.

Q2: Both Egypt and Georgia serve as strategic hubs in their respective regions. How can the two nations enhance coordination in light of current global geopolitical challenges?

-Georgia occupies a strategic geographical position linking Europe and Asia, while actively participating in major regional and international infrastructure and transport initiatives.

Today, Georgia plays an increasingly important role as a logistics and transit hub connecting Asia to Europe through the Black Sea region and the South Caucasus. The country is also actively involved in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor.

In the current climate of geopolitical fragmentation, relying solely on traditional alliances may no longer be sufficient. Egypt and Georgia can benefit from building closer, trust-based cooperation focused on pragmatic partnerships among governments, parliaments, businesses, and civil society organizations.

Q3: Are there any upcoming high-level official visits planned between the two countries in the near future?

-There are ongoing discussions regarding several possible high-level exchange visits, reflecting the positive momentum in bilateral relations.

We are particularly interested in enhancing inter-parliamentary cooperation through the establishment of friendship groups in both parliaments, which would strengthen dialogue and mutual understanding.

Currently, the Georgian Embassy in Cairo is working on possible visits by senior Georgian officials, including the President of Georgia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Such visits would further deepen cooperation across political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people dimensions.

Q4: Georgia has achieved remarkable progress in ease of doing business and anti-corruption reforms. How can Egypt and Georgia exchange expertise in administrative and economic reform?

-Egypt and Georgia share a strong commitment to reform, transparency, and private sector-led growth.

One important step would be establishing institutionalized mechanisms for knowledge-sharing through joint working groups and policy dialogues between ministries and specialized agencies.

Digital governance is another promising area of cooperation. Georgia’s experience in simplifying administrative procedures and reducing bureaucracy through digital transformation could complement Egypt’s “Digital Egypt” strategy.

Additionally, both countries can cooperate on improving business environments, investment facilitation, innovation ecosystems, tax policy, and anti-corruption frameworks through technical workshops and institutional partnerships.

Q5: Which sectors offer the most promising investment opportunities for Egyptian businessmen in Georgia, and vice versa?

-Georgia and Egypt possess complementary economic strengths that create excellent opportunities for mutually beneficial investment flows.

For Egyptian investors in Georgia, renewable energy remains highly attractive, particularly hydropower, solar, wind, and geothermal projects. Agriculture, agro-processing, tourism, hospitality, and logistics also offer significant opportunities.

For Georgian investors in Egypt, promising sectors include manufacturing, industrial production, ICT, fintech, renewable energy, construction, and tourism development, especially within the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

Ultimately, Georgia offers a liberalized business environment and strategic market access, while Egypt provides scale, diversification, and gateway access to African and Middle Eastern markets.

Q6: Are there specific plans to increase trade volume, and what obstacles are you working to overcome?

-Currently, there are no regular direct flights between Georgia and Egypt. Only charter flights connect Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada with Tbilisi.

However, for the 2026 summer season, Air Cairo will launch new direct charter flights between Batumi and Cairo, operating once weekly. Discussions are also ongoing regarding the possibility of establishing direct flights between Cairo and Tbilisi.

Improving air connectivity is a key step toward boosting tourism, trade, and investment between the two countries.

Q7: What do you think of Egypt’s New Administrative Capital and its recent urban development projects?

-The New Administrative Capital represents a bold and forward-looking vision for Egypt’s future.

Its smart-city approach, modern infrastructure, green spaces, and institutional facilities reflect a strong commitment to sustainable urban development and improved quality of life.

At the same time, the project helps reduce pressure on Cairo while creating new opportunities for investment, employment, and economic growth. It is truly a remarkable national achievement.

Q8: Given the historical and cultural depth shared by both peoples, how does the Embassy plan to promote cultural and academic exchanges in the coming period?

-Egypt and Georgia are united by a rich historical legacy and a shared belief in investing in education, culture, and knowledge exchange.

We are encouraged by the growing number of Egyptian students pursuing higher education in Georgia, and we remain committed to facilitating academic mobility in both directions.

We highly appreciate Egypt’s support through scholarships for Georgian students studying Arabic and through joint academic activities involving Georgian specialists in Oriental Studies.

On the cultural front, the Embassy is working on several initiatives, including a documentary by Rustavi 2 about the legacy of the Georgian Mamluks in Egypt, as well as exhibitions and cultural performances highlighting Georgian heritage.

These initiatives aim to strengthen dialogue, mutual understanding, and friendship between our peoples.

Q9: On a personal note, how would you describe your experience with Egyptian culture so far? And what message would you like to send to the Egyptian people?

-As someone who deeply loves history, Egypt is truly an extraordinary destination. I am fascinated by its ancient civilization, monumental architecture, and cultural richness.

I was particularly impressed by the Grand Egyptian Museum, which offers an unforgettable experience for visitors.

Beyond the historical treasures, I have been touched by the hospitality, generosity, and warmth of the Egyptian people. Despite being far from home, I find many shared values between Egyptian and Georgian societies, especially regarding family, respect, and compassion.

Egypt is moving confidently toward strong economic growth and modernization, and I sincerely wish the Egyptian people continued success and prosperity in the years ahead.