Egyptian president, Greek PM discuss boosting relations, energy cooperation

CAIRO – 10 February 2023: Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has discussed with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis the means of fostering the two countries’ strong relations at the different levels, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement on Friday.

Sisi and Mitsotakis stressed in a phone call their keenness to push forward their joint cooperation on the bilateral level in various fields, especially investment, trade exchange, as well as cooperation in energy and electricity linkage.

They also affirmed keenness to continue intensified political consultations on issues of mutual concern for both countries, especially with regard to the development of the situations in the Eastern Mediterranean region, the Presidency added.

The two presidents’ phone call comes shortly after a visit by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias to Cairo last November, during which he signed a maritime search and rescue agreement along with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry.

Egypt and Greece also share plans to link their electricity grids.

In January, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker said Egypt and Greece are in the process of selecting an international consulting firm that would prepare a feasibility study for an intended electricity linkage between both countries.

The minister stated that the two countries can exchange electricity of around 2,000 megawatts.

The power linkage agreement between Egypt and Greece were signed in October last year. Later in the same month, the two countries also signed a power linkage agreement with Cyprus during a summit for the three countries’ leaders in Athens.

Also, trade exchange between Egypt and Greece jumped by 112.8 percent during the first half of 2021, recording $1 billion, compared to $477.6 million during the same period in 2020.