Egypt and Uzbekistan have signed two memorandums of understanding aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic cooperation during the first official visit by an Uzbek foreign minister to Cairo. The agreements mark a new step in expanding bilateral ties between the two countries.
The talks were held between Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov. Both sides focused on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, and institutional partnerships.
One of the signed agreements links the Egyptian Institute for Diplomatic Studies with its Uzbek counterpart. The second establishes a cooperation programme between the two foreign ministries covering the period from 2026 to 2028, aimed at enhancing diplomatic training and coordination.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tamim Khalaf said the visit reflects growing momentum in bilateral relations and a shared commitment to maintaining regular high-level engagement between Cairo and Tashkent.
During the discussions, Egypt called for accelerating the creation of a joint Egyptian-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce and a bilateral business council. Officials said these mechanisms would help increase trade volumes and encourage greater private-sector investment.
Egypt also highlighted its strategic geographic position and its extensive network of free trade agreements, presenting itself as a gateway for Uzbek exports to reach broader regional markets.
The two sides reviewed potential cooperation across multiple sectors, including agriculture, energy, infrastructure, mining, automotive manufacturing, chemicals, tourism, food production, logistics, and air and maritime transport.
A key focus of the talks was the pharmaceutical industry. Egypt urged faster registration of Egyptian medicines in Uzbekistan to help expand access to Central Asian markets and support export growth for Egyptian manufacturers.
Officials also discussed cooperation in technical training and capacity building. Both countries emphasized the importance of exchanging expertise to strengthen institutional performance and workforce skills.
Beyond economic matters, the ministers also exchanged views on key regional and international developments. Discussions included the Palestinian issue and recent diplomatic efforts involving US-Iran negotiations.
Uzbek Foreign Minister Saidov praised the strength of relations between the two countries and expressed optimism about expanding cooperation in the coming years. He also acknowledged Egypt’s role in supporting regional stability and security.
The visit is being viewed as a milestone in Egypt-Uzbek relations, with both sides signaling interest in building a more structured partnership that extends beyond diplomacy into trade and long-term strategic cooperation.
