Egypt and Uzbekistan deepened their bilateral relations by co-chairing the 7th Session of the Joint Committee on Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation. The meeting, led by Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Rania A. Al-Mashat, and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, marked the first convening of the committee in 15 years, highlighting a renewed commitment to exploring new horizons of partnership.

In her remarks, Al-Mashat emphasized the symbolic and practical importance of the session, which she described as a continuation of the momentum sparked by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s historic visit to Uzbekistan in 2018. That visit, she noted, paved the way for strengthened ties in various fields. She also highlighted the strategic locations of both nations, with Egypt positioned as a gateway for Uzbek trade and investment into Africa, and Uzbekistan serving as a hub for Egyptian access to Central Asia.

The session concluded with the signing of six agreements to formalize cooperation in key areas. Egypt and Uzbekistan signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering environmental protection, academic collaboration, cultural heritage, and regional partnerships. Notably, an agreement was inked between Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and Uzbekistan’s Islamic Civilization Center to foster cultural and scientific exchange. Additionally, Ain Shams University in Egypt partnered with Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies to enhance academic and research cooperation.

The ministers also signed the protocol for the committee session, outlining cooperation across 14 developmental sectors, including trade, public-private partnerships, energy, tourism, transportation, and higher education.

Despite the shared potential for collaboration, Al-Mashat pointed out that trade and investment levels remain below expectations. Only 24 Uzbek companies in sectors such as tourism, IT, and agriculture currently operate in Egypt. Similarly, trade exchange between the two nations is relatively modest. Both sides pledged to address these gaps through closer public and private sector cooperation and by fostering new investment opportunities.

Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment echoed this sentiment, expressing a strong desire to raise trade exchange to $500 million in the coming years by eliminating barriers and inviting Egyptian businesses to participate in Uzbek exhibitions and initiatives. He also proposed establishing an Egyptian-Uzbek Business Council to facilitate private sector partnerships. Furthermore, he expressed interest in leveraging Egypt’s expertise in pharmaceuticals, electronics, and textiles for significant regional projects.

During the session, both sides underscored the importance of expanding collaboration across vital sectors, including renewable energy, health, agriculture, higher education, civil aviation, and IT. Enhancing the relationship between the two countries' banking sectors was identified as another priority to support broader commercial activities.

The Egyptian delegation included Ambassador Tamer Hammad, along with representatives from several ministries. The Uzbek delegation featured senior officials from the environment, energy, culture, and transport ministries, among others. The two sides reaffirmed their shared vision of leveraging historical and cultural ties to drive economic growth and development.

The session marked a continuation of efforts dating back to the establishment of Egypt’s embassy in Uzbekistan in 1995 and the launch of the Joint Committee in 1996. President El-Sisi’s 2018 visit to Uzbekistan served as a catalyst for this renewed engagement, underscoring both nations’ aspirations for a robust and forward-looking partnership.