Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Bulgaria and Egypt reaffirmed their growing strategic partnership during a series of high-level meetings in Cairo, where Bulgarian Economy Minister Petar Dilov held talks with Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Affairs Kamel Al Wazir and Minister of Defense and Military Production General Abdul Mageed Sakr. The meetings took place on the sidelines of the EDEX 2025 Egypt Defence Expo, one of the region’s largest defense industry gatherings.
Minister Dilov emphasized that Egypt remains Bulgaria’s key partner in the Middle East and North Africa, noting that economic cooperation between the two countries has expanded significantly in recent years. “Egypt is our country’s largest trading partner in the Middle East and Africa region,” Dilov said, highlighting the increasingly active and stable trade relationship.
Discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Al Wazir focused on deepening industrial cooperation, particularly in sectors with high potential for growth, including automotive manufacturing, defense production, and transport. Both sides noted that 2026 will mark the centennial anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Egypt—an occasion expected to be used to further strengthen political and economic ties.
During Minister Dilov’s meeting with Egypt’s Defense Minister and Minister of Military Production, General Sakr, officials underscored the substantial rise in bilateral trade of defense products. They also explored avenues for enhanced cooperation in military production, including opportunities for technology transfer, joint manufacturing, and the exchange of technical expertise. General Sakr expressed appreciation for Bulgaria’s long-standing friendship, stressing that Egypt values the countries’ deepening defense collaboration.
Bulgaria’s presence at EDEX 2025 reflects its growing interest in the regional defense market. Ten Bulgarian defense companies are participating in this year’s exhibition, showcasing a wide range of military technologies and equipment. Minister Dilov praised the organization of the expo and extended an invitation to General Sakr to attend the International Hemus Exhibition for Defence Equipment and Services, scheduled to take place in Plovdiv from June 3 to 6, 2026.
Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Egypt, Deyan Katrachev, joined the meetings and reaffirmed Sofia’s commitment to further expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.
Beyond the defense-focused discussions, Cairo also hosted the second session of the Bulgaria–Egypt Intergovernmental Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation, the first such meeting in nearly six years. During the session, both countries agreed to broaden collaboration in trade, energy, agriculture, food industries, tourism, digitalization, and information and communication technologies. Officials noted that these areas represent significant opportunities for long-term economic integration.
The renewed diplomatic and economic momentum signals a deepening of ties between Sofia and Cairo at a time when both countries are seeking to expand their regional roles and diversify economic partnerships. As Egypt and Bulgaria prepare to mark 100 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, both sides appear committed to elevating the relationship to a new level of strategic cooperation.
