Foreign Minister Ali Sabry holds bilateral discussions in Cairo to strengthen relations between Sri Lanka and Egypt
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry went on an official visit to Egypt from 07-11 August 2024 at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates of Egypt Dr. Badr Abdelatty.
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry had productive discussions with his counterpart Dr. Badr Abdelatty and reviewed bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Egypt. Both sides highlighted the potential to enhance the relations between the two countries by building closer links in areas such as trade, investment, tourism, education, culture, archaeology, maritime transport, renewable energy, and climate change. The two Ministers also talked about regional and global issues of mutual interest and strengthening cooperation in multilateral forums.
After the bilateral discussions, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry joined Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) and the Institute for Diplomatic Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt. The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation in diplomatic training, capacity building, research, and studies in diplomacy between the two countries.
Minister Sabry discussed ways to enhance cooperation in trade and investment with Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El Khatib and the President of the General Authority of Free Zones and Investment (GAFI). They identified prospective sectors of mutual interest, emphasized the importance of trade delegations exchange, and the prompt arrangement of trade consultations. The Egyptian side appreciated Sri Lankan private sector investments in Egypt and assured full support to boost Sri Lankan investments in Egypt and address any challenges they may encounter.
During the visit, Minister Ali Sabry met with His Eminence Dr. Shawky Ibrahim Allam, Grand Mufti of Egyptto discuss religious cooperation, cultural ties, combatting extremism & radicalization, promoting peaceful coexistence, and enhancing people-to-people connections between Sri Lanka and Egypt.
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry also took part in an event organized by the Cairo Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce to boost trade and economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Egypt. They discussed avenues to expand trade and investment between the two nations in sectors like agriculture, apparel, IT, renewable energy, and tourism. Minister Sabry invited the Egyptian business community to explore trade and investment opportunities in Sri Lanka for mutual growth and prosperity.
The Minister also met with Ambassador Mohamed Al-Orabi, Chairman of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA), and discussed regional developments and potential cooperation with the ECFA.
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry visited Egypt at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Badr Abdelatty. They discussed expanding bilateral relations in trade, investment, tourism, education, and more. They also talked about regional and global issues. Sabry signed an MoU with Egypt for diplomatic training cooperation. He also met with officials to enhance trade and investment cooperation, including discussions on boosting Sri Lankan investments in Egypt. Additionally, Sabry met with the Grand Mufti of Egypt to discuss religious cooperation and peaceful coexistence. He also attended an event promoting trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. Sabry invited Egyptian businesses to explore investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.
