Egypt and Vietnam are considering starting talks on a free trade agreement to deepen economic ties, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly at a meeting on the G20 sidelines in Johannesburg. According to a statement from the Egyptian Cabinet on Sunday, Chinh said Hanoi is interested in assessing the feasibility of an accord, citing the promising potential of the two economies and Vietnam's position as a gateway for Egyptian goods to Asian markets. He congratulated Egypt on the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and the upgrade of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, adding that he hopes to expand cooperation across trade, investment and other sectors. Madbouly said he looked forward to deepening cooperation with Vietnam across multiple sectors, praising the country's economic progress. He highlighted several Vietnamese companies operating in Egypt, including EuroPlas, which has built a plastics factory in Sadat City and is seeking to expand in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE). He also cited Song Hong Garment's partnership with Giza Spinning and Weaving to establish a garment plant in Aswan, along with interest from other investors such as Vingroup in electric-vehicle manufacturing. Madbouly added that Egypt aims to draft a plan to advance bilateral ties, noting Egypt's strategic location, extensive free-trade agreements, and potential for Vietnamese products to access nearby markets. The Vietnamese premier also called for easing visa procedures—particularly for investors—and facilitating the establishment of Vietnamese companies in Egypt. He said Vietnamese firms are keen to benefit from incentives offered in Egypt's free zones and use them as a platform for exports to regional markets. Both sides discussed forming a high-level joint committee and encouraging deeper private-sector partnerships, while boosting coordination in regional and international forums. Madbouly welcomed the proposals and said Egypt is ready to receive a delegation of Vietnamese business leaders to push forward discussions. He added that collaboration could also extend to telecommunications and information technology, reaffirming Egypt's interest in attracting Vietnamese investment in these sectors. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
