Bulgarian FM Georgiev emphasised in an interview with Ahram Online on the sidelines of his visit to Cairo that Bulgaria and Egypt are committed to elevating their bilateral ties in line with the strategic nature of the enhanced EU–Egypt partnership.
Ahram Online: Bilateral cooperation was strengthened through positive, constructive steps, embodied by the exchange of high-level visits. Please share your opinion on the elevated relations.
Georg Georgiev: Bulgaria and Egypt's relations are deeply rooted in history. Egypt has historically served as a gateway for Bulgaria to the Middle East and Africa. This historical bond explains why, in 1926, Egypt became the first Arab country with which Bulgaria established diplomatic relations.
We look forward to celebrating the centenary of this milestone in 2026.
In recent years, our relationship has gained new momentum. A significant development was the establishment of the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC), co-chaired by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs. During its inaugural session in Cairo in February 2024, the agenda included key sectors such as defence, energy, transport, connectivity, economy, industry, innovation, and growth. Additionally, we held the latest round of political consultations between our two foreign ministries in April.
AO: What is required for launching these relations and taking them to stronger and broader horizons?
GG: Maintaining active political dialogue and ensuring the implementation of agreements made during the first JCC session. In this context, we look forward to hosting the next JCC meeting in Sofia and the second session of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) in Cairo in the second half of 2025. Both events will lay the groundwork for the anticipated visit of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Bulgaria, in response to President Rumen Radev's visit to Egypt in 2019—an essential item on our bilateral agenda.
We will also continue expanding and enhancing our bilateral legal framework in strategic areas such as maritime shipping, air services, energy, defence, and security.
AO: What are the objectives of your current visit, and what are its most important outcomes?
GG: The primary objective of my visit to Cairo is to build on the positive momentum of recent years and reaffirm Bulgaria's strong political will to deepen our friendly relations further while taking them to the next level. In addition, my visit aims to reinforce the encouraging trend in our trade and economic cooperation, reflected in the growing interest of Bulgarian companies in investing in Egypt and the record level of bilateral trade, which reached 1.81 billion USD. A key highlight of the visit is the successful organisation of a Joint Business Forum—the first since 2019—which will play a vital role in enhancing business-to-business contacts.
AO: The Middle East is witnessing wars and conflicts, the most dangerous of which is Israel's war of extermination on the Gaza Strip and the attempts to displace its population. What is your vision on this issue?
GG: As a country committed to peace, stability, and international law, Bulgaria is deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the broader deterioration of security across the Middle East. We have been unequivocal in calling for the resumption of the ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages, the protection of civilians, and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to those suffering on the ground.
Bulgaria, like the European Union, recognises Israel's right to defend itself. However, this right must be exercised strictly per international humanitarian law. We continue to stress the importance of restraint, proportionality, and protecting innocent lives, including those of humanitarian workers and UN personnel.
We highly value Egypt's pivotal role in this crisis. Egyptian diplomacy has worked tirelessly to mediate between the parties, de-escalate tensions, facilitate the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance, and negotiate the release of hostages. Bulgaria fully supports these efforts and stands ready to contribute, both bilaterally and within the European Union and the United Nations framework.
AO: Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean. In that context, how are they cooperating to address the challenges that both shores of the Mediterranean currently face?
GG: The Mediterranean is more than just a geographical area—it is a vital cultural and economic bridge connecting three continents, with Egypt at its heart.
The region faces unprecedented and multifaceted challenges, underscoring the urgent need for a more robust and coordinated response to preserve stability. In this context, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) 's role is crucial for promoting regional cooperation and dialogue.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, an important milestone that offers a valuable opportunity to rethink and revitalise Mediterranean cooperation to address current and future challenges.
AO: Combating terrorism and irregular migration are of great interest to both countries. What are the latest developments in this regard?
GG: Combating terrorism and extremism and curbing irregular migration remain key areas of mutual interest for Bulgaria and Egypt. We are deeply impressed and highly appreciative of the significant efforts and tangible results achieved by the Egyptian government and religious institutions in countering radicalisation, terrorism, and extremism and in managing irregular migration. Bulgaria is intensely interested in deepening our cooperation in these strategic spheres.
We also recognise the immense challenges and burdens Egypt continues to shoulder by generously hosting more than 10 million migrants and refugees from across the region and providing them with essential services—a demonstration of remarkable solidarity and responsibility.
AO: Egypt is Bulgaria's largest trading partner in the Middle East and Africa. Can you elaborate further on the prospects of economic, trade, energy, and investment cooperation?
GG: Egypt has firmly maintained and strengthened its position as Bulgaria's leading trade partner in the Middle East and Africa. The past year marked a historic peak in bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
According to the latest data, bilateral trade in 2024 reached a record-breaking $1.81 billion—an impressive 41 percent increase compared to the previous year, with a positive trade balance of approximately $378 million in Egypt's favour. Bulgaria has emerged as the fourth-largest exporter of high-quality wheat to Egypt, increasing its exports by nearly 60 percent, from 285,000 to almost 452,000 tons. These exports are valued at just over $110 million. This substantial contribution supports Egypt's food security.
Moreover, several Bulgarian IT and outsourcing companies have already established a presence in the Egyptian market, and notable new investments are underway in food production, agriculture, and textiles.
A Joint Business Forum will be held on the sidelines of my visit to Cairo. Looking ahead, the second session of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC), scheduled for later this year, and the establishment of a Joint Business Council will further boost our trade and economic relations.
Furthermore, Bulgaria sees strong potential for increasing exports of food, agricultural and pharmaceutical products, fertilisers, and electronics.
Energy is another promising area with vast potential for deepened cooperation. Bulgaria appreciates Egypt's ambition to play a leading role in regional energy security amid significant global energy challenges and establish itself as a regional energy hub, connecting the Middle East and Africa with Europe. We view Egypt as a key energy partner and a potential supplier of natural gas and electricity generated from renewable sources. This aligns with Bulgaria's strategic goals of diversification and our ambition to become an energy hub in Southeastern Europe, in line with our green transition and digitalisation processes.
A pivotal step in this direction was signing an MoU on natural gas cooperation during the inaugural session of the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC). Bulgarian engineering and technical expertise in the energy sector is highly valued in Egypt, most notably concerning strategic projects such as the country's first nuclear power plant in Al-Dab'aa.
AO: Egypt is witnessing progress in major national projects across various fields. How do you view bilateral cooperation in these areas?
GG: Egypt is making remarkable progress on major national projects across key sectors—agriculture, industry, investment, the Suez Canal Economic Zone, and developing new smart cities. Bulgaria is keen to contribute to and cooperate on these ambitious undertakings.
Bulgaria possesses rich traditions and recognised expertise in areas such as agricultural science, irrigation system development, dam construction, and large-scale infrastructure projects. Over the years, Bulgarian engineers have played vital roles in infrastructure development across numerous Arab countries. We are particularly impressed by the Suez Canal Economic Zone and aware of various international partners' growing interest and investments.
AO: Our two countries have significant potential in culture and tourism. Will they witness any development in these areas of cooperation?
GG: Bulgaria and Egypt share a rich historical and cultural heritage and have traditionally enjoyed excellent cultural and touristic cooperation. Therefore, we are pleased to officially announce our decision to endorse Dr. Khaled El-Anany's candidature for Director-General of UNESCO.
In recent years, cultural exchange between our countries has intensified. More Bulgarian artists are participating in various events. The upcoming centenary of establishing diplomatic relations in 2026 presents an excellent opportunity to strengthen our cultural ties further.
Tourism remains an up-and-coming area of cooperation, since both countries boast a wealth of attractions and remain top destinations for travellers. Bulgaria ranks third in Europe, after Italy and Greece, in the number of archaeological artefacts discovered.
I would also like to highlight the valuable work of the Bulgarian archaeological mission in Luxor. The mission has been active since 2012 and has yielded remarkable results.
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