The Egyptian Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Mohamed Farid Saleh, stated on Monday, July 6, 2026, Egypt's interest in developing economic cooperation with the United Kingdom, increasing mutual investments, and expanding trade between the two countries.
These statements were made during the minister's meeting with the British Ambassador to Egypt, Mark Bryson-Richardson. During the negotiations, the parties reviewed issues of economy, trade, and investment that are of mutual interest.
Saleh added that the government continues to work on creating a more competitive business environment and removing obstacles for investors in cooperation with relevant authorities.
The discussions included a review of British investments in Egypt, particularly concerning the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and plans for the expansion of this British-Swedish company. Opportunities for investment in the Suez Economic Belt and ways to attract additional British capital were also examined.
The parties also discussed cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as regulatory and tax barriers affecting British firms, emphasizing the need for constant coordination to resolve investor issues and support the expansion of their businesses in Egypt.
Regarding trade, the discussions focused on increasing the export of Egyptian agricultural products to the British market, especially strawberries and grapes, as well as on British measures affecting the steel sector.
Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining consultations within the Association Agreement between Egypt and the United Kingdom to preserve stable trade relations and achieve common goals. Richardson noted that the UK is keen to deepen economic and investment interaction with Egypt and develop the progress made in bilateral ties.
The ambassador also reported that British companies are interested in increasing their investments in Egypt and will continue to engage with the Egyptian government to promote joint projects and improve trade and investment opportunities between the countries.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdel Atti, stated that Egypt will maintain intensive contact with Qatar, Turkey, and Palestinian factions, including Hamas. He emphasized that efforts are not ceasing, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza is necessary in accordance with the plan of US President Donald Trump.
These statements were made by Abdel Atti in response to journalists' questions during a joint press conference on Saturday, July 4, 2026, with the EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica. Abdel Atti stressed that contacts 'have not stopped and will not stop.' Egypt is working to reach an agreement on two key issues: arms control and collection, as well as the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, which is preparation for the second phase of the Trump plan.
He also noted that Egypt will continue to make efforts and exercise maximum patience to stimulate positive interaction with arms control proposals based on the document presented to Palestinian factions, including Hamas.
Separately, the minister announced that work continues within the quadripartite structure, as well as through constant contacts with the United States, Iran, and other key states, to maintain progress in negotiations at the technical level. A recent quadripartite meeting held in Cairo was mentioned.
Regarding the main areas of cooperation between Egypt and the European Union in the coming period, the EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, stated that resilience, readiness, and migration are interconnected pillars within the Mediterranean Pact. She emphasized that the EU seeks to support talent and partnerships, and that Egypt is an indispensable partner for the European Union.
During the press conference, Šuica added that readiness and migration 'will lead us to prosperity,' and also noted the EU's involvement in this process and the importance of human development.
For his part, Abdel Atti mentioned an important project with Greece in the field of legal migration that will allow both sides to 'benefit and gain.' On matters of key initiatives with the European Commission and areas of progress, Abdel Atti stated mutual commitment to the full implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement.
He pointed out that the European Union has allocated 1.8 billion euros to support the private sector and investments, emphasizing the need to ensure benefits for Egyptian companies from this support. Egypt also aims to become a hub for new and renewable energy, noting interest from European companies as well as non-EU countries such as Norway.
Furthermore, he mentioned some regulatory obstacles affecting Egypt's exports to European markets and called for technical support for renewable energy projects and capacity building.
Šuica emphasized the importance of regional stability, noting that grants already exist, but stability is necessary to attract European investors to the region. She also reported on the consideration of a financing platform worth 10.8 billion euros, adding that the green transition is extremely important and must be carried out in stages.
Abdel Atti responded that Egypt has adopted laws and regulations to facilitate and encourage investment, stressing its commitment to further strengthening the private sector. Assessing Egypt's efforts to combat irregular migration, Šuica called Egypt an indispensable partner in the region, especially regarding irregular migration, and stated the EU's commitment to supporting this partnership and assisting authorities in these efforts. She highly praised Egypt's strong efforts, calling migration a serious and sensitive global issue.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdel Atti, held a phone conversation with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Antonio Tajani, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
During the conversation, the sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and reviewed regional issues of mutual interest. Abdel Atti highly praised the growing momentum in bilateral ties, emphasizing Egypt's desire to expand cooperation to broader horizons in various fields.
Particular attention was paid to the economic, investment, and trade sectors, as both sides are interested in increasing trade turnover and achieving common goals. Furthermore, the ministers exchanged views on recent news regarding the negotiation process between the US and Iran.
They particularly noted the importance of utilizing the positive dynamic that emerged after signing the memorandum of understanding. This is necessary to create sustainable conditions that promote regional calm, security, and stability, as well as ensure freedom of navigation in accordance with international law.
The Egyptian Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Alaa Farouk, and the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, held talks with representatives of Indian companies and organizations. The goal of the meetings was to explore opportunities for cooperation in sustainable agriculture and integrated water resource management. Areas discussed included the establishment of a Center of Excellence for research and training on cultivating drought- and climate-resistant millet. Furthermore, participants reviewed a digital agriculture project and an initiative to produce biodegradable tableware from rice straw. The importance of accelerating the implementation of joint projects and removing obstacles to ensure effective interaction was emphasized.
