Minister Georgiev at Business Forum Opening in Cairo: "We Expect an Increasingly Effective Economic Dialogue with Egypt"
22 May 2025 News
The Foreign Minister is on a two-day official visit to the African country.
"Our joint efforts will be further developed and will yield results in an effective economic dialogue between the two countries. Bulgaria plays an active and important role in the European “Solidarity Lanes” Initiative, which ensures safe routes for the export of agricultural products from the Black Sea region to Egypt and other African countries at fair and affordable prices."
This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr Georg Georgiev, during the opening of a business forum in Cairo.
The Minister is on an official two-day visit to Egypt. Georg Georgiev opened the Bulgarian-Egyptian Business Forum in Cairo, marking a new stage in the development of economic relations between Bulgaria and the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The event was organised with the active support of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC), and the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations (CEEBA). The forum brought together more than 160 Bulgarian and Egyptian companies from strategic sectors such as the food industry, agriculture, transport, IT, textiles, and the defence industry.
Minister Georgiev inaugurated the forum alongside Dr Sherif Farouk, Egypt’s Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, and with the participation of Dr Rania al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and Lieutenant General Eng. Kamel al-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industrial Development and Transport,. On behalf of the trade associations, the forum was also opened by Mr Alaa al-Ezz, , Secretary General of CEEBA and FEDCOC, and Dr Eng. Veselin Todorov, Vice President of BCCI,.
In his address, Minister Georgiev emphasised that the forum is a logical continuation of the enhanced political dialogue between the two countries and serves as a concrete instrument for deepening partnership in trade, investment, and industrial cooperation.
In 2024, bilateral trade reached a record $1.81 billion – a 41% increase compared to the previous year, cementing Bulgaria’s position as Egypt's eighth largest trading partner among EU Member States. Bulgaria also became one of Egypt’s leading wheat exporters, with a 60% increase in export volumes year – on - year.
Discussions also covered opportunities for expanding investment cooperation, including the granting of a "Golden License" to a Bulgarian company in Egypt in 2024, as well as the growing presence of Bulgarian IT and outsourcing companies in the country.
The forum also served as a platform to announce the upcoming Second Session of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation and the establishment of a Joint Business Council, both of which are expected to contribute to a more structured and long-term development of bilateral economic relations.
Earlier in the day, Minister Georgiev held a meeting with Dr Karim Darwish, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Egyptian House of Representatives. During the talks, Bulgaria's deep respect for the traditional friendly ties with Egypt was reaffirmed. Within the framework of the evolving strategic and comprehensive partnership between Egypt and the European Union, Bulgaria expressed its wish to promote a more active interparliamentary dialogue and cooperation as a complement to the existing political exchange.
The two sides also discussed important issues on the international agenda. Minister Georgiev acknowledged Egypt's key role in ensuring regional security and stability and in seeking sustainable solutions to ongoing regional crises.
The potential for intensifying parliamentary dialogue as an important element in the development of bilateral relations was also at the centre of Minister Georg Georgiev's discussions with Mr Hanafi Gebali, Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament's House of Representatives and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Minister Georgiev informed his host that the Bulgarian Parliament is expected to establish a friendship group with Egypt, which would further promote inter-institutional cooperation.
Minister Georgiev's visit continues with meetings with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt.
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