Egypt and Bulgaria signed three agreements following the first meeting of the joint committee between both nations on Saturday 10/02/2024, including a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in natural gas.
The other two agreements include mutual exemption from short-stay visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and service passports as well as an MoU on cooperation between Egyptian and Bulgarian defence ministries.
The meeting was held in Cairo and co-chaired by Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Gabriel.
Both sides confirmed their deep commitments to enhancing the bilateral relations in a way that reflects the nature of the EU-Egypt partnership, according to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry.
The Egyptian and Bulgarian sides expressed their commitment to strengthening their economic and trade dialogue to explore future opportunities to expand trade and investment.
The statement added that the two
sides agreed to enhance all activities to enhance the private sector and boost small and medium-sized businesses, encouraging mutually beneficial startup activities, mainly in the innovative digital and green domains.
During the meeting, the Egyptian side presented the opportunities available in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, encouraging Bulgarian investment to participate in the zone.
Both sides also agreed to exchange expertise in information technology, with the Egyptian side inviting Bulgarian companies to invest in the emerging IT sector in Egypt.
Efforts to improve connectivity and transport links were also discussed, with a focus on establishing closer cooperation between the seaports of both countries.
Additionally, they encouraged their respective national airlines to advance cooperation and explore the possibility of establishing direct flights between Sofia and Cairo.
Source: State Information Service Egypt