The technical expert-level meetings of the first session of the Egypt–Albania Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation convened today in the Albanian capital, Tirana. These meetings prepare for the upcoming ministerial session co-chaired by H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, on the Egyptian side, and Ms. Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Albania, on the Albanian side.
The agenda of the first session includes convening the Egypt–Albania Business Forum, with the participation of business leaders from both countries. The forum will explore all possible avenues to strengthen economic cooperation between the two sides through the pivotal role of the private sector. It will also discuss areas of mutual interest and present investment opportunities in infrastructure, real estate development, tourism, and other sectors.
This Joint Committee is convening for the first time since the signing of the Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Albania, which was concluded in Cairo on 22 May 1993.
H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat noted that the Joint Committee aims to strengthen economic ties and elevate them to the level of the two countries’ ambitions, in addition to advancing cooperation in cultural and scientific fields. She affirmed that Egypt, through its joint committees with friendly and partner countries, is committed to establishing clear frameworks for bilateral cooperation and achieving shared interests across multiple sectors.
This session of the Egypt–Albania Joint Committee is being held in light of the two countries’ leaderships’ commitment to deepening bilateral relations, particularly following the exchange of official high-level visits. Key among these was the visit of former Albanian President Ilir Meta to Egypt in February 2019, during which he held official meetings focused on strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing economic and investment cooperation. Another important milestone was the visit of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to Cairo in October 2021, which featured extensive discussions on advancing political and economic cooperation and increasing trade and investment between the two countries.
The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation is chairing the meetings, with participation from the Egyptian side including representatives from the Ministries of Investment and Foreign Trade; Electricity and Renewable Energy; Higher Education and Scientific Research; Agriculture; Civil Aviation; Labor; Supply and Internal Trade; Public Business Sector; the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI); the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone); the Arab Organization for Industrialization; and major companies operating in infrastructure, real estate development, tourism, and other sectors. Representatives from corresponding Albanian ministries and entities are also participating.
The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation continues its efforts within the framework of the Egyptian Government’s program to strengthen economic relations with bilateral and multilateral development partners. The Ministry oversees 54 Joint Committees between Egypt and other countries, including 30 with European partners—serving as vital mechanisms for enhancing Egypt’s economic cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels.