Egypt, UK agree to step up efforts to boost intra-trade, investment

CAIRO – 5 July 2022:  Egypt and the UK agreed to step up efforts to boost intra-trade and investment.

This came in a joint statement issued following the first Egypt-UK Association Council in London that was chaired by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Elizabeth Truss.

The statement said the two top diplomats stressed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in the fields of agriculture, healthcare, energy, education and financial services.

The statement said the Egypt-UK Association Council provides a new platform for pushing forward a bilateral partnership agreement signed in December 2020.

The statement added that the two foreign ministers expressed their countries' willingness to deepen technical cooperation in priority sectors.

Shoukry and Truss witnessed the signing of a declaration of intent between the Egyptian Electric Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency (EgyptERA) and the British Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) to help reform Egyptian legislation on renewable energy, the statement said.

The pair agreed to explore tripartite cooperation opportunities with African countries in various fields, notably infrastructure, the statement noted.

The statement noticed that the UK foreign secretary hailed Egypt's preparations for hosting the UN climate change conference (COP27) to be held in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh in November.

According to the statement, the two foreign ministers stressed the importance of supporting developing countries to achieve just transition towards sustainable development patterns that are eco-friendly and compatible with the endeavors to combat climate change.

The two ministers discussed a number of bilateral, regional and world issues of common concern, the statement read.

At the end of their talks, Shoukry and Truss expressed hope for regularly holding meetings of the Egypt-UK Association Council to continue the efforts aimed at cementing bilateral cooperation in different areas, the statement concluded.