Egyptian-Eritrean rapprochement and a trend towards strengthening economic and trade cooperation
Efforts are underway to activate the cooperation agreement in the field of maritime transport.
Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:
Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty, Minister Foreign Ministry The Ministry of International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad met on Wednesday with Osman Saleh, the Eritrean Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and coordinate positions on issues of common interest.
Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Minister Abdel-Aati appreciated the outcomes of the successful bilateral visit of President Isaias Afwerki to Egypt, within the framework of advancing and strengthening relations between the two countries in various fields.
He emphasized the strength of the historical relations that unite the two brotherly countries, expressing his appreciation for the existing coordination and the unity of visions and common interests between the two countries.
He stressed Egypt’s full support for the State of Eritrea, in order to preserve its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and the keenness to continue building on the momentum witnessed in bilateral relations, and to enhance cooperation in various fields, in a way that achieves the interests of the two brotherly peoples.
Cooperation to encourage joint investments between Egypt and Eritrea
The Foreign Minister stressed the keenness to enhance economic and trade cooperation with Eritrea in various fields, and to build on the outcomes of the visit of the Eritrean President’s Economic Advisor to Egypt last April, as well as the joint visit of the Foreign Minister and the Minister of Transport to Asmara last May with a delegation of Egyptian businessmen, including activating the cooperation agreement in the field of maritime transport that was signed in Asmara.
He expressed his hope to continue joint work to increase the volume of trade exchange, encourage joint investments, and support the participation of the Egyptian private sector in the Eritrean market, especially in priority sectors.
He explained that at the top of those sectors are mining, infrastructure, maritime transport, linking ports and developing and raising the efficiency of Eritrean ports, pharmaceutical industries, fisheries, and housing, in addition to strengthening technical cooperation in the field of capacity building through technical courses organized by the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development, in response to the needs and priorities of the Eritrean side.
Regarding the security of the Red Sea, the two ministers stressed that the security and management of the Red Sea remains the exclusive responsibility of the littoral states, and completely rejected any attempts by non-littoral parties to impose security arrangements or roles in this context or to impose their maritime access in violation of the provisions of international law, while supporting Eritrea’s vision regarding the management of the Red Sea, particularly the emphasis on the unity and sovereignty of the states bordering the Red Sea.
The official spokesperson added that the two ministers exchanged views on developments in the Horn of Africa region, with Minister Abdel-Aati presenting the Egyptian perspective on developments in Sudan and Somalia.
He affirmed Egypt’s firm stance towards maintaining the security and stability of the Horn of Africa region as a direct extension of Egyptian national security, and the importance of supporting national state institutions and preserving the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries of the region and rejecting any unilateral measures that would infringe upon the sovereignty of countries or undermine the foundations of stability in the region.
