Egypt and Uzbekistan signed two memorandums of understanding for diplomatic cooperation on Saturday during the first bilateral visit by an Uzbek foreign minister to Cairo, where talks focused on establishing a joint chamber of commerce and expanding Central Asian market access for Egyptian pharmaceuticals.
Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty and his Uzbek counterpart Bakhtiyor Saidov concluded their meetings by signing an agreement linking the Egyptian Institute for Diplomatic Studies with its Uzbek equivalent, alongside a cooperation programme between the two foreign ministries covering the period from 2026 to 2028.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tamim Khalaf stated that Abdelatty welcomed the inaugural visit by an Uzbek foreign minister, noting it reflects the momentum in bilateral relations and a shared political will to maintain regular coordination mechanisms.
During the discussions, Abdelatty stressed the need to expedite the formation of the Egyptian-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce and a joint business council to increase trade and investment volumes. He highlighted Egypt’s strategic location and its extensive network of free trade agreements to facilitate mutual economic growth.
The ministers reviewed strategies to translate political agreements into concrete investments across agriculture, energy, infrastructure, mining, the automotive industry, chemicals, tourism, food industries, logistics, and maritime and air connectivity.
Abdelatty specifically highlighted cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry, urging the facilitation of Egyptian medicine registration in the Uzbek market to support the entry of Egyptian products into Central Asia. He also emphasised the importance of joint training, capacity building, and the transfer of technical expertise.
Khalaf added that the two officials examined regional and international issues, primarily the Palestinian cause, and exchanged views regarding the latest developments in US-Iranian negotiations.
Saidov praised the depth of relations between the two countries, expressing his anticipation to elevate ties across various sectors in the coming period. He also commended Egypt’s role in supporting regional security and stability.
