Egypt Today: Egypt and Slovakia have taken a significant step toward deepening their bilateral ties, with Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and Juraj Blanár, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, signing an agreement to establish the Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation between the two countries.
The newly signed agreement underscores both nations’ mutual commitment to broadening their economic partnership and exploring new avenues of collaboration aligned with shared development priorities.
During their joint talks, the ministers highlighted the importance of the committee in expanding cooperation across various sectors, particularly within the framework of the strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union.
The meeting also reflected on the recent momentum in bilateral relations, exemplified by the first Egypt–EU Summit held in Brussels, which marked a new phase of engagement since March 2024.
Preparations for the inaugural session of the Egypt–Slovakia Joint Economic Committee were discussed, with a focus on creating an effective cooperation framework that leverages both nations’ substantial economic capabilities.
Areas of focus include increasing mutual investments, boosting tourism to Egypt—especially following the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, and advancing national priorities such as industrial localization and private sector empowerment.
Dr. Al-Mashat expressed her aspiration for the committee to build on existing progress, enhance trade volumes, strengthen private sector collaboration, and attract new investments—particularly in industrial development and knowledge sharing.
She also underscored the need to align joint economic stances in international forums, noting that the current trade and investment levels remain below the two countries’ true potential.
Minister Blanár reaffirmed Slovakia’s commitment to expanding dialogue with the Global South and African nations, emphasizing Egypt’s prominent role as a key partner. He described the agreement as a milestone in bilateral relations, providing a renewed governmental framework for cooperation that is expected to stimulate trade and investment flows.
At present, 45 Slovak companies operate in Egypt, with total investments exceeding USD 560 million across multiple sectors. In 2024, 1.4 million Slovak tourists visited Egypt, while bilateral trade reached approximately USD 340 million.
Egypt continues to utilize joint committees as a cornerstone of its foreign cooperation strategy, aiming to strengthen economic, trade, and investment relations, as well as cultural, scientific, and technical collaboration with partner nations.
The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation currently supervises around 55 joint committees with countries across different continents, reinforcing Egypt’s position as a dynamic and reliable economic partner on the global stage.
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/3/143226/Egypt-Slovakia-establish-joint-committee-to-strengthen-economic-cooperation
