Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi in the New Capital on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen economic, investment, educational, and cultural ties between the two countries.
Madbouly said the visit was an important opportunity to revive high-level exchanges, noting that it was the first official visit to Cairo by a Kazakh foreign minister since 1998. He also recalled that Egypt was among the first countries to recognize Kazakhstan’s independence.
The prime minister expressed Egypt’s desire to host Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Cairo, building on President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s visit to Kazakhstan in 2016.
He called for practical steps to activate bilateral cooperation mechanisms, particularly the sixth session of the Egyptian-Kazakh Joint Committee, expected to be held in Astana in the near future. A business council meeting is also expected to take place on the sidelines to connect private-sector representatives and explore new investment opportunities.
Trade and investment opportunities
Madbouly welcomed the recent growth in bilateral trade, which reached $300 million by the end of 2025, but said exchanges should expand further to reflect the economic potential of both countries.
He highlighted Egypt’s strategic location and extensive network of trade agreements linking it to Arab, African, and European markets, saying Cairo was ready to meet Kazakhstan’s demand for competitively priced Egyptian products.
These include agricultural produce, processed food, chemicals, fertilizers, and ready-made garments, among other goods.
The prime minister also welcomed Kazakh companies operating in Egypt and called for greater two-way investment, particularly in agriculture and grain production and trade, mining, chemicals, textiles, food processing, construction, furniture, renewable energy, and pharmaceuticals.
He proposed exploring the establishment of an integrated Kazakh logistics centre in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
Tleuberdi, for his part, expressed interest in expanding cooperation in technology and artificial intelligence, as well as energy, and in boosting trade through the upcoming joint committee meeting.
Education, culture and tourism
Madbouly stressed the importance of educational and cultural exchanges, welcoming Kazakhstan’s contribution to the restoration of Cairo’s Sultan Al-Zahir Baybars Mosque, a historic landmark reflecting the two countries’ shared heritage.
He also praised the role of the Egyptian-Kazakh University of Islamic Culture Nur-Mubarak in Almaty in strengthening academic and cultural ties.
The prime minister encouraged Kazakh students to benefit from scholarships offered by Al-Azhar and Egypt’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, welcoming continued interest among Kazakh students in studying at Egyptian institutions.
In tourism, Madbouly welcomed the increase in Kazakh visitors to Egypt and called for closer cooperation in the sector, including stronger air links and regular direct flights between Cairo and Astana.
Regional coordination
Madbouly also called for continued coordination between Egypt and Kazakhstan at international and regional forums, particularly the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).
Tleuberdi thanked Egypt for its reception and praised the country’s development in recent years, particularly the construction of the New Capital. He drew parallels with Kazakhstan’s own experience of moving its capital from Almaty to Astana.
The Kazakh foreign minister said he looked forward to further strengthening ties and receiving the Egyptian delegation in Astana for the next joint committee session to explore cooperation across a range of sectors.
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