Ashraf AboArafe
The follow-up team of the Saudi-Egyptian Joint Committee held its first meeting to follow up on the recommendations of the 18th session of the committee, during the period from October 9-10, 2024, in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, headed by the Deputy Governor of the General Authority for Foreign Trade for International Relations, Abdulaziz bin Omar Al-Sakran, and the Head of the Agreements and Foreign Trade Sector at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the Arab Republic of Egypt, Dr. Amani Al-Wasal.
The first meeting aims to follow up on the implementation of the strategic directions of the two countries, follow up on the implementation of the recommendations and initiatives of the joint committee, identify obstacles and challenges, raise recommendations with proposed solutions and follow up on them to solve them, and propose new initiatives that serve the committee’s goals of strengthening and developing bilateral relations in various economic fields.
The meeting comes as an extension of the importance of joint work between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Republic of Egypt; to strengthen fraternal ties, consolidate cooperation and raise it to higher levels, in a way that achieves the goals of the work of the Saudi-Egyptian Joint Committee, and develops bilateral relations in various economic fields that enhance trade between the two countries.
The volume of trade exchange between the two countries increased in the first half of 2024 by 41% compared to the first half of last year, which recorded nearly $6 billion, reaching about $8 billion, as metal products, plastics and their products were among the most prominent Saudi goods exported to Egypt, while metal products, copper and their products were among the most prominent Egyptian imported goods.
The Deputy Governor of the Foreign Trade Authority for International Relations, Abdulaziz bin Omar Al-Sakran, confirmed that the first meeting of the follow-up team comes in light of the committee’s keenness to strengthen the relationship between the two parties and follow up on the challenges they face, and expresses the serious desire of the two parties to achieve the desired goals in a way that contributes to the development of economic relations between the two countries.
The meeting was attended by: the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Investment, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, the Ministry of Media, the Saudi Central Bank, the General Authority for Foreign Trade, the General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, the Saudi Fund for Development, the General Organization for Technical and Vocational Training, and the Federation of Saudi Chambers. It is worth noting that the General Authority for Foreign Trade aims to enhance and maximize the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s international trade gains, and defend its interests in the areas of foreign trade, in a way that contributes to the development of its national economy.
