Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said on Monday that summit talks with the visiting Croatian President, Zoran Milanović, pointed to the importance of promoting economic co-operation and increasing trade exchanges between the two countries in a way that is compatible with level of their distinguished political relations.
Speaking to a joint press conference with President Milanović following their summit talks on Monday, President Sisi welcomed the Croatian president on his first visit to Egypt, emphasising that it will contribute indeed to elevating the horizons of relations to a broader and more distinguished level.
At the outset of the press conference, President Sisi expressed profound condolences to the peoples of Syria and Turkey and to the families of victims of the devastating earthquake that hit the East Mediterranean region.
The president stressed Egypt’s full solidarity with the two peoples of Syria and Turkey as well as Egypt’s readiness to provide all forms of assistance in dealing with the effects of that earthquake.
Beginning his statement to the joint press conference, President Sisi congratulated the Croatian president, government and people, on their country’s recent accession to the Schengen and eurozone, as of January 1, 2023, adding that this development comes as a culmination of Croatia’s march and successes in terms of integration within the institutions of the European Union.
Egypt, the president said, looks forward to developing ties with Croatia, especially after it has become one of the southern gates of the European Union, which can contribute to increasing trade exchanges on the one hand, and the enhancement of energy security in the region of southern and central Europe on the other.
During talks with President Milanović, appreciation was expressed to Croatia over its political positions in support of issues key to Egypt, foremost of which is that of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam file, President Sisi said.
In this connection, President Sisi lauded Croatia’s positions in support of Egypt at international fora, especially within the European Union, in addition to the accord of views on several issues of common concern.
Egypt’s remarkable progress in the field of energy production and its resources, whether through gas discoveries in the eastern Mediterranean region and the establishment of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum organisation headquartered in Egypt, was also highlighted during the talks, President Sisi said.
Also highlighted during the talks, President Sisi said, was Egypt’s ongoing serious endeavour to localise the green hydrogen industry and advance the renewable energy sector. He referred in this connection to the solar power plants in Benban, Aswan, as well as to the efforts made in the field of wind energy and the establishment of giant stations in some areas, including the one in Jabal al-Zeit zone.
Ways of co-operation between the two countries in the field of energy and encouraging Croatian companies to work and invest in Egypt in this field, were also considered during the talks, President Sisi said.
In a related context, the president referred to the overall efforts of the Egyptian state in the field of attracting foreign direct investment through the establishment of special economic zones such as the Suez Canal Economic Zone, and the issuance of a golden investment licence.
In this regard, the Croatian side was invited to establish industrial zones in Egypt to take advantage of the free and preferential trade agreements it enjoys with Arab and African countries, thus facilitating the access of Croatian products to the markets of these countries with a competitive advantage.
The talks, President Sisi added, also dealt with the exchange of visions and viewpoints on a number of regional and international issues of common concern, especially including the Palestinian issue and the situation in Libya.
A number of issues in the Eastern and Southern Europe regions were also discussed, with a focus on the current international crises as well as the file of illegal immigration, the president said.
The Croatian president’s visit to Cairo reflected the keenness of both countries on the furtherance of their relations especially given Egypt’s role as a foundation stone for stability in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions and Croatia’s important role within EU institutions, Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Ahmed Fahmy said in a statement following the Sisi-Milanović summit.
The two leaders expressed appreciation of the extended relations between the two countries as so has been reflected in many instances including Egypt’s hosting of thousands of Croatian refugees during World War II, Spokesman Fahmy said. The summit talks, he added, featured a consideration of ways to consolidate relations between the two countries in a manner that realises the interests of their two peoples.
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