(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The number of
international partners wishing to strengthen relations with
Azerbaijan is increasing every year. As a result of the successful,
multifaceted foreign policy of President Ilham Aliyev, the
country's importance in the international arena is growing,
attracting more and more partners all over the world.
There is a great historical and cultural connection between
Azerbaijan and the Arab world, and Egypt, in this regard, takes a
prominent position.
The upcoming visit of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on
January 27-28, 2023, is set to give a boost and open a new page in
bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Egypt. And through
these years, the two countries have established well-developed
cooperation in political, economic, trade, cultural, and other
fields.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established
on the 27th of March 1992. The Embassy of Egypt in Baku has been
operating since April 1993, and the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Cairo
has been active since January 1994.
Since then the two countries enjoy mutually beneficial
cooperation in various fields, such as energy, construction,
pharmaceuticals, mining, and many others. So far, Egypt and
Azerbaijan have signed nearly 60 cooperation agreements.
The Joint Commission on Intergovernmental Economic, Technical
and Scientific Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and
Egypt was established on October 3, 2002. Moreover, the working
group of the Azerbaijani-Egyptian inter-parliamentary relations
operates in Azerbaijani Parliament.
The fifth meeting of the commission was held on February 25,
2022, in Baku. Following the result of the meeting, 4 memorandums
of understanding were signed, that is, between the Small and
Medium-Sized Business Development Agencies of the two countries,
between Azerbaijan's Export and Investment Promotion Agency
(AZPROMO) and Egypt's Trade and Industry Ministry on the
establishment of the Azerbaijani-Egyptian Business Council, between
AZPROMO and the Association of Egyptian Businessmen; and between
Baku International Sea Port CJSC and the Port of Alexandria. At the
same time, an Azerbaijani-Egyptian business forum was held within
the framework of the meeting.
According to the latest statistics, the trade turnover between
Azerbaijan and Egypt from January through December 2022 amounted to
$16.1 million, of which $2.5 million accounted for Azerbaijani
exports to the country, and $13.6 million – for imports.
Regular air service is maintained between the countries. At
present, Air Cairo operates flights once a week from Baku to the
Sharm el-Sheikh resort city of the Red Sea, and back. Just in July
last year, the president of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Jahangir
Asgarov and the Ambassador of Egypt to Azerbaijan Hisham Mohamed
Nagy Abdel Hamid held a meeting on the agenda of mutual cooperation
in the field of civil aviation. The sides expressed interest in
expanding air communication between the two countries and regular
passenger and cargo flights between Cairo and Baku.
Moreover, Egypt has repeatedly expressed its interest in
participating in the restoration process of Azerbaijan's liberated
lands. The largest Egyptian companies Al Mocawloon Al Arab and
Dorra Group, specializing in construction and road infrastructure,
visited Azerbaijan and expressed their interest in participating in
the restoration process.
There have been some significant mutual high-level visits in the
past. On November 2, 2016, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan at the time, Elmar Mammadyarov, paid an official visit
to Egypt. On September 30, 2016, Mammadyarov received Mohamed
Orabi, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Egyptian
Parliament and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, who participated
in the 5th Baku International Humanitarian Forum.
At the same time, all member states of the Arab League, which
includes Egypt, are also members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM),
currently chaired by Azerbaijan. On October 24-26, 2019, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Sameh Shoukri, visited
Azerbaijan to participate in the 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM). Thus, Azerbaijan and Egypt have built mutual trust
and support within the NAM.
Solid political relations helped the states to launch
cooperation in various spheres. Considering all the above,
Azerbaijan's cooperation with Egypt has a great potential for
future development, based on mutual support in the global arena,
similar social contexts and values.
Having established strong partnerships with both European
countries, and countries of the Turkic world, as well as with Arab
states, Azerbaijan only continues to improve its image as a
reliable, trustworthy partner. Azerbaijan has achieved significant
success in the development of the business environment, thanks to
the efforts of President Ilham Aliyev. Thus, the world's largest
companies want to invest huge amounts of funds in promising
projects in Azerbaijan, and, of course, Egypt will not stay aside.
Stability, excellent business and investment climate, as well as
serious political will demonstrated by the country's leadership,
are the keys to the success of the Azerbaijani economy and the
country's successful bilateral relations with its partners.