Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt and Slovenia are moving to elevate their bilateral relationship, with a particular focus on trade, investment, and connectivity, as Cairo looks to strengthen its economic footprint in European markets. The push gained momentum during talks held on Friday between Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdelatty, and Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob on the sidelines of Abdelatty’s visit to the Slovenian capital.
During the meeting, both sides underscored the strength of Egyptian-Slovenian relations and expressed a shared commitment to expanding cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade, investment, transport, tourism, culture, and healthcare. Abdelatty praised the steady development of ties between the two countries, describing Slovenia as a promising entry point for Egyptian exports into the European Union and beyond.
A key focus of the discussions was the potential for Slovenia to serve as a logistical hub for Egyptian goods destined for European markets. Abdelatty highlighted the possibility of launching a dedicated maritime shipping line that would connect Egyptian ports with Slovenia, leveraging the latter’s geographic position and advanced port infrastructure. Such a move, he said, could significantly enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian exports across the EU, while also reinforcing Egypt’s role as a central trade gateway linking Europe with Africa and the Middle East.
The talks also built on progress achieved through the Egyptian-Slovenian Joint Economic Committee, whose second session was held in February last year. Abdelatty welcomed the outcomes of that meeting and confirmed Egypt’s readiness to host the third session in Cairo later this year, signaling sustained political support for deepening economic ties.
In presenting Egypt’s investment landscape, the foreign minister pointed to opportunities in industrial zones and major national development projects, with particular emphasis on the Suez Canal Economic Zone. He also highlighted Egypt’s new urban developments, which have become focal points for foreign investment in recent years. Discussions extended to port cooperation, with both sides exploring ways to expand collaboration beyond the existing partnership between the ports of Koper and Alexandria to include other Egyptian ports such as Ain Sokhna and Damietta.
Air connectivity was another priority, as Abdelatty stressed the importance of completing the procedures necessary to activate a bilateral air services agreement. Direct or expanded flight connections, he noted, would support tourism flows, facilitate business travel, and encourage greater investment exchanges between the two countries.
Labor mobility and healthcare cooperation featured prominently as well. Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s interest in reaching an agreement on skilled labor that would allow Egyptian workers to be employed in Slovenia, either on a permanent basis or through seasonal and temporary migration schemes. In the health sector, the two sides discussed prospects for cooperation in medical and wellness tourism, as well as programs for exchanging doctors, joint training initiatives, and broader scientific and medical collaboration.
For his part, Prime Minister Golob reaffirmed Slovenia’s appreciation for its relationship with Egypt and welcomed increased Egyptian investment in the Slovenian economy. He voiced Slovenia’s ambition to position itself as a gateway for Egyptian trade not only to the European Union, but also to the Western Balkans and Central Europe, reflecting Ljubljana’s broader strategy of strengthening its role as a regional trade and logistics hub.
The discussions reflect a growing convergence of interests between Egypt and Slovenia at a time when both countries are seeking to diversify trade routes, enhance supply chain resilience, and deepen economic partnerships across regions. As talks continue, officials on both sides appear keen to translate diplomatic momentum into concrete projects that could reshape trade and cooperation between North Africa and Europe.
