Egypt and Slovakia have signed an agreement to establish a Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation, marking a new step towards deepening bilateral relations and enhancing trade and investment ties. The agreement was signed by Egypt's Minister of Planning, Rania Al-Mashat, and Slovakia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Juraj Blanár, during the Slovak minister's visit to Egypt to attend the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. The two sides affirmed that the new committee will serve as a key mechanism to expand cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union. They also highlighted the recent momentum in bilateral relations, particularly following the first Egypt–EU Summit held in Brussels earlier this year. Discussions during the meeting addressed preparations for the first session of the Joint Committee, with both sides expressing interest in maximising the economic potential of the two countries. They focused on increasing joint investments, boosting tourism flows to Egypt—especially after the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum—and supporting national priorities related to industrial localisation and private sector development. The Egyptian market currently hosts about 45 Slovak companies with total investments exceeding $560 million in tourism, services, industry, construction, telecommunications, agriculture, and information technology. Around 1.4 million Slovak tourists visited Egypt in 2024, while bilateral trade between the two countries reached roughly $340.4 million. Slovakia's exports to Egypt mainly include industrial and transport products such as vehicles, machinery, and equipment, whereas Egypt's exports to Slovakia are more diversified, covering electronics, rubber products, and fireworks. Egypt's Ministry of Planning oversees about 55 joint committees with partner countries across different continents, serving as a key instrument to promote economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
