Gulf security integral to Egypt national security: FM Abdelatty to Bahraini counterpart

Ahram Online , Tuesday 4 Feb 2025

Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed to Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani Egypt’s unwavering support for Bahrain, underscoring the importance of safeguarding Gulf security as an integral part of Egypt’s national security.

Badr Abdelatty
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty with Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani during their meeting. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Abdelatty made his remarks during a meeting with the Bahraini minister in Bahrain on Monday, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. 

The ministers also discussed key regional issues, including implementing the Gaza ceasefire agreement, access to humanitarian aid in the strip, and the latest developments in Syria.

Moreover, FM Abdelatty highlighted the long-standing fraternal ties between the two nations, expressing Egypt’s appreciation for the Bahraini king's support for the Egyptian community in Bahrain.

He also underscored the vital role of the Egyptian Ministry of Labor’s electronic platform in facilitating the recruitment of skilled Egyptian workers to meet the needs of the Bahraini labour market.

Furthermore, he reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to enhancing economic ties with Bahrain, especially boosting trade and investment.

Abdelatty also stressed the importance of deepening cooperation between Arab countries, especially in manufacturing, highlighting Egypt’s dedication to advancing industrial and economic integration across the region. 

Additionally, he discussed Egypt’s efforts to expand its role in the global clean energy market.

Meeting with Bahraini finance, national economy minister
 

 

On Monday, Minister Abdelatty also met with Bahraini Minister of Finance and National Economy Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa to discuss strengthening economic ties between the two nations.

During their meeting, Abdelatty praised the growing momentum in Egyptian-Bahraini relations, particularly following President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s visit to Bahrain in June 2022. The visit led to signing several economic agreements and memorandums of understanding.

A key outcome of the visit was the establishment of the Egyptian-Bahraini Governmental Committee for Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technological Cooperation, chaired by the finance ministers of both countries. This committee aims to deepen trade, investment, and economic development collaboration.

The Egyptian minister also highlighted the country’s extensive institutional reforms designed to streamline procedures and attract foreign investment. 

He reiterated Egypt’s eagerness to host a regular Egyptian-Bahraini business forum in Cairo to foster stronger business ties and showcase investment opportunities.

In addition, he reviewed Egypt’s recent infrastructure advancements and called for joint efforts to enhance bilateral economic and investment cooperation, ensuring mutual benefits for both nations.

In 2023, Egypt and Bahrain agreed on 15 cooperation initiatives and signed 13 MoUs in areas such as consumer protection, fighting monopolies, and industrial partnerships.

Trade between the two countries significantly increased in 2021 to $917.2 million, a 128.7 percent increase from $401 million in 2020, according to Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

Similarly, Egypt's exports to Bahrain surged to $450.7 million in 2021, a 223.5 percent increase from $139.3 million in 2020. Meanwhile, Bahrain's exports to Egypt climbed to $466.5 million, up from $261.7 million in 2020.

As of June 2021, Bahraini investments in Egypt amounted to $3.2 billion across 216 projects, according to the Bahraini ambassador to Cairo.

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