Русский
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has met with Badr Abdelatty, the Foreign Minister of Egypt, on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The discussion addressed key issues pertinent to the further strengthening of Russian-Egyptian relations. Particular attention was devoted to preparations for the inaugural Russia-Arab Summit in Moscow on October 15 this year, as well as the second ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, scheduled for November 18–19 this year in Cairo.
A substantive exchange of views occurred on pressing Middle Eastern matters, with emphasis on developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The ministers also examined the challenges of achieving lasting settlements in Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, and Libya. Both parties reaffirmed the importance of continued active foreign policy coordination between Moscow and Cairo at the United Nations and other international platforms.
Bilateral relations, trade, and investment between the two countries have been rapidly developing, with Russia involved in Egypt’s energy sector, in both the oil and nuclear power sectors.
As a member of several trade agreements, Egypt enjoys access to various international markets. Key trade agreements include the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA), which reduces tariffs and trade barriers among Arab countries; the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the European Union, which grants preferential trade terms for Egyptian goods; and the Egypt-EU Association Agreement, which provides access to the EU market, benefiting key sectors such as agriculture and textiles. Egypt is also a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Egypt-China Free Trade Agreement, and the Egypt-India Free Trade Agreement and is engaged in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which facilitates greater regional integration. Additionally, Egypt has agreements with the United States and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) to enhance trade.
Egypt is also a full member of BRICS and a dialogue partner with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. It is also close to reaching a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.
With a population of approximately 116.5 million, Egypt has a GDP (PPP) of US$2.24 trillion and a GDP per capita (PPP) of US$20,800, with a projected GDP growth of 4.5% for 2025.
Egypt’s non-energy sector with Russia is also growing and diversifying, in both the agricultural and Russian investment sectors. Russia is shortly to begin construction of the Port Said Industrial Park, near the Suez Canal, in an area reserved exclusively for Russian investors. This will provide tax incentives and other motivations for Russian businesses to access both the Egyptian and larger African export markets. Production is expected to range from products as diverse as sunflower oil to automotive.
The Russian tourism to Egypt sector has been booming as Russians seek alternatives to European vacations, while investment diversification has spread to the Russian IT industry. Many Russian companies are looking at Egypt as a gateway to the MENA region, a development that will accelerate once the EAEU FTA is signed.
Russian President Putin met the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, at the Kremlin in May and described the current Russian-Egyptian relations as developing successfully and “supported by regular and substantive political dialogue.” He noted that Egypt joined BRICS in 2024 and that, by the end of last year, bilateral trade had grown by more than 30%, reaching a record US$9 billion. He added that trade increased by another 80% in the first two months of this year. If that pace is maintained, bilateral trade could hit US$17 billion for 2025.
The immediate bilateral development potential between Russia and Egypt looks very positive.
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