Expert-level meetings for the seventh session of the Egyptian-Uzbek Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation kicked off on Sunday in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. These meetings serve as a precursor to a ministerial session later this week, co-chaired by Egyptian Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat, and Uzbek Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, Laziz Kudratov.
This marks the first time since 2009 that the joint committee has convened, signaling a renewed commitment by both nations to enhance their bilateral relations across various sectors. The session reflects the strong interest of both countries’ leaderships in deepening ties, following Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s landmark visit to Uzbekistan in September 2018. It underscores Egypt’s increasing focus on strengthening relationships with Central Asia, with Uzbekistan positioned as a key partner.
Key Objectives: Strengthening Economic and Scientific Ties
The expert meetings are designed to address areas of mutual interest, focusing on fostering economic, scientific, and cultural cooperation between Egypt and Uzbekistan. One of the central aims is to enhance bilateral economic relations, facilitate inter-investment, and remove barriers to growth. Al-Mashat emphasized that the joint committee seeks to align the economic strategies of both countries and establish frameworks to achieve mutual interests.
“We are committed to strengthening our economic relations with Uzbekistan in a way that reflects the aspirations of both nations,” said Al-Mashat. “Our joint committees with other countries play a crucial role in establishing clear cooperation frameworks and ensuring that we achieve results across various sectors.”
Delegations and Key Areas of Cooperation
The Egyptian delegation includes representatives from the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones. Notably, representatives from major Egyptian pharmaceutical companies, such as ACDIMA, are also attending.
The Uzbek delegation comprises officials from the Ministries of Investment, Industry, Trade, Culture, Transport, Energy, Higher Education, Tourism, and Pharmaceutical Industries.
The expert meetings are set to cover a wide array of topics, including investment opportunities in key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, construction, food industries, tourism, technology, and logistics services. These discussions will culminate in the Egyptian-Uzbek Business Forum, which aims to boost private sector collaboration between the two countries.
Focus on Business and Investment
A major highlight of the seventh session will be the Egyptian-Uzbek Business Forum, where business leaders from both countries will meet to discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation. The forum will focus on expanding investment opportunities and exploring collaborative projects across sectors, particularly in pharmaceuticals, construction, food processing, tourism, and technology.
This forum is seen as a critical step toward boosting private sector involvement in bilateral relations, a key area of interest for both governments. The participation of Egyptian pharmaceutical companies, in particular, highlights the growing importance of the health sector in Egypt-Uzbekistan cooperation.
A Wider Vision: Egypt’s Joint Committees Network
The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation is leading the expert meetings, with the ministry overseeing a network of 54 joint committees with countries around the world, including 30 with European nations. These committees play a vital role in Egypt’s foreign policy, serving as strategic mechanisms to enhance economic and scientific collaboration at both the bilateral and multilateral levels.
This strategic initiative aims to foster long-term, sustainable economic partnerships for Egypt, and the renewed focus on Uzbekistan underscores Egypt’s growing engagement with Central Asia. As discussions unfold over the coming days, both sides will look to cement their economic ties and explore new avenues for mutual growth and development.
