Egypt and Greece have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in creative industries and handicrafts, aiming to facilitate the access of Egyptian products to European markets through Greece.
The agreement, signed between the International Creative Academy (ICA) of Egypt and the Foundation of the Hellenic World, seeks to support joint production of competitive handicraft products. Abdel Aziz El-Sherif, First Undersecretary of the Ministry and Head of the Egyptian Commercial Service (ECS), stated the partnership aligns with efforts to support Egypt’s non-traditional exports and create sustainable job opportunities for youth in the creative economy.
The MoU was signed by Hany Barakat, President of the ICA, and Sophia Kounenaki-Efraimoglou, Executive Vice President of the Foundation of the Hellenic World. The partnership was concluded under the supervision of Commercial Counsellor Marwa Abu El-Sadat, Head of the Egyptian ECS in Athens, as part of broader efforts to enhance economic and trade relations between the two nations.
“The MoU represents an important step toward strengthening Egyptian-Greek economic cooperation in the high value-added creative and handicraft sectors,” El-Sherif said. He added that the sectors are among the most promising for bilateral cooperation, offering opportunities for entrepreneurs and sustainable partnerships for small, medium, and micro enterprises.
The framework outlines several areas of joint cooperation, including the organisation of exhibitions, trade events, and joint creative workshops.
It also includes the development of specialised training and educational programmes for young creatives, and collaboration in digital applications, advanced technologies, and professional capacity building.
Moreover, the MoU also incorporates support for research initiatives and technical knowledge exchange.
According to El-Sherif, the initiative reflects a shared vision to position creative industries as a driver of sustainable economic development and a tool for commercial diplomacy. The agreement also focuses on the transfer of technical expertise and modern technologies to empower youth and artisans in both countries.
The partnership aims to establish effective platforms for knowledge exchange between creators and entrepreneurs, with a specific emphasis on digital production and marketing to enhance the global competitiveness of the regional handicraft industry.
