The first session of the Egyptian-Albanian Joint Committee was held since 1993, in addition to Egyptian Business Forum Albany in the Albanian capital, Tirana, in a step that reflects the keenness of the two governments to strengthen economic relations and explore investment and trade opportunities between the two countries.
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, explained that the holding of the joint committee reflects the political leadership’s keenness to strengthen cooperation frameworks with friendly and brotherly countries, and to exploit the comparative advantages of the Egyptian and Albanian economies for the benefit of the two peoples by increasing the rates of trade exchange and joint investments.
The Minister stressed that the joint committees represent an effective tool for economic diplomacy, allowing the exploration of partnership opportunities and the strengthening of cooperation in various economic and technical sectors, noting that the prospects for cooperation between Egypt and Albania are promising and clear, and the complementarities between the two economies form a solid basis for expanding partnerships in support of common development priorities.
Al-Mashat pointed out that Egypt enjoys a strategic location that makes it a promising economic center, especially through the Suez Canal Economic Zone, free trade agreements, and tangible progress in the fields of renewable energy, logistics, and industrial development, which provides Albanian partners with access to the markets of Africa, the Middle East, and Arab countries.
The Minister also stressed that the business forum represents an opportunity for Egyptian companies to exploit Albania’s geographical location as a gateway to enter European and regional markets, benefiting from advanced infrastructure networks, its proximity to major transport corridors, and its progress towards European integration, thus enhancing its position as a center for investment and trade.
For her part, Ms. Delina Ibrahimaj, Albanian Minister of Economy and Innovation, indicated that Egypt and Albania share long-standing historical friendship, stressing that the committee represents a step towards transforming this friendship into practical cooperation that achieves tangible benefits for the two economies and their citizens.
The Albanian Minister explained that the main priorities include enhancing foreign direct investment, increasing trade exchange, and expanding areas of cooperation in trade, tourism, energy and water, agriculture, higher education and scientific research, health, pharmaceutical industries, vocational training, industry, housing, urban development, employment, culture, youth and sports, information technology, civil aviation, and maritime transport.
The Albanian Minister affirmed the continuation of work with the Egyptian side to transform the joint committee’s outputs into practical results on the ground, and to open broader horizons for bilateral relations.
