BRUSSELS/CAIRO – Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry asserted the necessity of co-operation to achieve joint vision to help Egypt become a hub for launching Bulgarian companies and trade into countries of the Middle East and Africa region.
The move will enable Bulgaria to become a hub for the entry of Egyptian exports into EU, in addition to the establishment of a logistics base in southeast Europe region and the Balkan, added Shoukry at a meeting with Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel Monday.
The two officials were taking part in the tenth session of meetings of Egypt-EU Association Council, which were hosted by the Belgian capital Brussels.
Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid said that Shoukry commended the level of mutual visits and momentum in ties binding the two countries in recent years along with utmost keenness on maintaining bilateral cooperation through the convocation of the first round of the joint co-operation committee between both countries under the chairmanship of the two foreign ministers and the visit of the Bulgarian foreign minister to Egypt in February.
The foreign minister congratulated Gabriel on the formation of the new Bulgarian government.
The two ministers welcomed the exchange of support in international fronts and probed ways of boosting economic co-operation vistas and scaling up trade exchange between the two countries, with special focus on the sectors of industry, energy and agriculture, along with luring investments.
Shoukry highlighted Egyptian efforts to achieve stability and security in the region and end disputes, taking into account repercussions of Middle East conditions and developments in Africa for EU states.
The Bulgarian foreign minister appreciated the pivotal role of Egypt in ensuring the safe and sustainable delivery of humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip and evacuation of Bulgarian nationals from the coastal enclave.
She said she is looking forward to developing bilateral ties and cooperation horizons between Egypt and EU.
She hailed Egypt’s important role in the Gaza crisis and said Egypt is a cornerstone of stability in the region.
