03/09/2026
First Session of the Egyptian-Italian Joint Higher Committee Held in Cairo, Co-Chaired by the Foreign Ministers of the Two Countries
The first session of the Joint Committee between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Italian Republic was held today, Thursday, September 3, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The session was co-chaired by Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates, and Mr. Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy.
The event was attended by Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy; Dr. Maya Morsi, Minister of Social Solidarity; Dr. Mohamed Farid, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade; and Mr. Hassan Raddad, Minister of Labor.
Attendees also included representatives from the Ministries of Transport, Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Health and Population, Education and Technical Education, and Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The Italian side was represented by the Minister of Environment and Energy Security and the Minister of Labor and Social Policies, in addition to a number of senior officials from both sides.
Minister Abdelatty pointed out that the convening of the Committee reflects the growing momentum witnessed in Egyptian-Italian relations and the support and attention they receive from H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and H.E. Ms. Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy. He expressed aspiration to build on this momentum in a manner that serves the mutual interests of both countries.
Minister Abdelatty also commended the steady growth in the volume of trade between the two countries, highlighting keenness to increase Italian investments and leverage Egypt’s position as a logistic and trade hub and a gateway to African markets.
For his part, Mr. Antonio Tajani underscored the importance of continuing to strengthen the Egyptian-Italian partnership, noting the growing interest of Italian companies in the Egyptian market and their interest in capitalizing on the promising opportunities it offers. Minister Tajani emphasized that the distinguished political relations between the two countries provide a strong foundation for expanding economic cooperation. He also stressed the importance of boosting partnerships across various fields to achieve mutual interests of both countries and supports their shared role in the Mediterranean region.
Dr. Mohamed Farid, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, underscored the importance of reactivating the Egyptian-Italian Business Council and enhancing direct communication between the business communities of the two countries, in a manner that contributes to translating investment and trade opportunities into tangible projects. He also highlighted the importance of advancing trade cooperation and increasing exports, exchanging expertise between the relevant entities, and exploring new opportunities for cooperation between Egyptian and Italian investment funds.
The meeting also tackled ways to expand cooperation and open new horizons for cooperation and investment.
In the field of electricity and energy, Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, stressed the importance of continuing work on the Egypt-Italy electricity interconnection project and enhancing cooperation in the fields of energy and green transition, in light of the opportunities the project offers to strengthen connectivity between Egypt and Europe and support cooperation within the Mediterranean region.
Dr. Maya Morsi, Minister of Social Solidarity, also emphasized the need to promote Egyptian-Italian cooperation in the fields of social protection and care, and economic empowerment, as well as exchanging expertise and experiences in the field of social development, in a manner that supports the two countries’ efforts to achieve sustainable development and enhance areas of cooperation with a humanitarian and social dimension.
With regard to labor and labor mobility, Mr. Hassan Raddad, Minister of Labor, stated that the discussions reflect the depth of the partnership between both countries, noting convergence to complete the final drafting of the Memorandum of Understanding on regulating and facilitating the entry and employment of Egyptian workers in Italy, alongside enhancing vocational, linguistic, and cultural training tailored to the needs of the Italian labor market.
Minister Abdelatty also made a point of addressing the Nile River issue, reaffirming that it is an existential issue and a matter of national security, and that no infringement on Egypt's water security can be permitted under any circumstances.
The Protocol of the Joint Committee, signed by the two ministers, included Italy’s affirmation of its support for the principles of international law, particularly with regard to the principle of no harm, encouraging cooperation among the Nile Basin countries in a manner consistent with the rules of international law, and refraining from any unilateral actions.
At the regional level, the meeting witnessed an in-depth exchange of views and assessments regarding a number of regional and international issues and crises of mutual concern. Foremost among these were developments regarding the Palestinian cause, as well as updates on the Iranian crisis and the situations in Libya, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa.
Both sides reaffirmed the significance of maintaining coordination and consultation on these files, given that restoring stability in neighboring countries directly impacts Egyptian national security.