The meeting took place on the sidelines of Abdelatty’s participation in a joint Arab-Slovenian meeting held earlier in the Slovenian capital.
The two sides discussed ways to deepen cooperation across economic, trade, investment, cultural, and tourism sectors, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
Abdelatty said Egypt was keen to expand economic ties with Slovenia, including increasing Egyptian exports to European Union markets through Slovenian ports. He also raised the possibility of launching a maritime shipping line that would position Slovenia as an entry point for Egyptian goods into Europe.
He highlighted Egypt’s geographic position as a regional trade hub linking Africa and the Middle East, and pointed to opportunities created by industrial zones, including the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), as well as newly developed cities.
In this context, Abdelatty welcomed the outcomes of the second session of the Egyptian-Slovenian Joint Economic Committee, held in February last year, expressing Egypt’s aspiration to host the committee’s third session in Cairo later this year.
The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation in port operations beyond the existing partnership between Alexandria and the Slovenian port of Koper, to include Egyptian ports such as Ain Sokhna and Damietta.
On air transport, Abdelatty stressed the importance of completing procedures to activate the bilateral air services agreement, saying direct flights would support tourism, trade, and investment between the two countries.
Labour cooperation was also on the agenda, with Abdelatty expressing Egypt’s interest in an agreement that would allow Egyptian workers to take up employment in Slovenia under permanent, temporary, or seasonal schemes.
The talks also covered expanding cooperation in healthcare, including medical and therapeutic tourism, as well as the exchange of doctors and joint training programmes across various medical specialities.
Golob welcomed Egyptian investment in Slovenia and said he hoped to see it increase, adding that Slovenia could serve as a gateway for Egyptian trade to Western Balkan and Central European markets.
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