Strengthening the Egyptian-Ugandan partnership: Extensive talks to boost investment and coordinate Nile issues

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

Dr. Badr met Abdel-AatiThe Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs met today, Friday, with Haruna Kasolo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, on the sidelines of the second extraordinary summit of countries contributing troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia, as part of Egyptian moves to expand its relations with the countries of the African continent.

Promotes trade and economic cooperation

The two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and coordinate positions on issues of common interest. Minister Abdel-Aty praised the growing momentum in relations between the two countries, stressing the importance of advancing trade, economic and investment cooperation in a number of vital sectors, most notably infrastructure, energy, mining, agriculture and fish farming, in addition to water resources management and pharmaceutical industries.

Expansion of the Egyptian Medical Center in Jinja

The Foreign Minister also stressed the importance of continuing efforts to expand the Egyptian Medical Center in Jinja, and to support Egyptian companies operating in the Ugandan market, while enhancing opportunities for Egyptian exports, in order to contribute to achieving common economic interests.

Formation of the Egyptian-Ugandan Business Council

In the same context, Abdel-Aati pointed to the need to expedite the formation of the Egyptian-Ugandan Business Council, as a pivotal step to increase the volume of trade exchange and enhance economic partnership, expressing Egypt’s aspiration to expand cooperation in the cultural and educational fields, through scholarships and partnerships between universities, in addition to benefiting from the programs of the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development and the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, and the role of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in capacity building.

Regarding the Nile River issue, the Minister stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation and integration among the basin countries to achieve common benefit, while adhering to the spirit of consensus and brotherhood among the countries of the southern Nile Basin, and rejecting unilateral actions in the eastern basin, praising Uganda’s efforts during its chairmanship of the Nile Basin Initiative’s consultative process, and the steps aimed at restoring consensus and implementing development projects in accordance with the rules of international law.

The talks also addressed a number of regional issues, with the two ministers exchanging views on developments in Sudan, Somalia and eastern Congo, and agreeing to strengthen bilateral and multilateral coordination in support of efforts to achieve peace, security and development in the African continent.