Manila: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty praised the current momentum in relations between Egypt and Canada during his meeting on Thursday, July 23, 2026, with Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the two ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in the economic, trade, and investment fields, and exchanged views on the most pressing regional and international issues of mutual interest. Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to further enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors, especially in the areas of economy, trade, and investment, describing them as shared priorities for both countries. He also stressed the importance of maintaining communication and coordination at all levels.
The Minister congratulated Canada on the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup, alongside the United States and Mexico, commending Canada's organizational capabilities, which contributed to the tournament's success. He also expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and support extended to Egypt's national team and Egyptian fans.
Abdelatty highlighted the promising opportunities available to Canadian companies and investors in the Egyptian market, describing Egypt as a gateway to African, Arab, and other international markets through its extensive network of free trade agreements. He also praised the role of Export Development Canada in encouraging and facilitating the activities of Canadian companies in Egypt. He emphasized the Egyptian government's commitment to removing any obstacles facing Canadian companies operating in Egypt, with the aim of supporting existing investments and attracting new Canadian investments, particularly in promising sectors.
The minister also welcomed the launch of technical consultations to explore updating the bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, expressing hope that the discussions would produce positive outcomes serving the mutual interests of both countries. He reviewed the investment opportunities available in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, stressing its strategic importance to global supply chains. He invited Canadian companies specializing in logistics, shipping, and infrastructure to explore the investment, industrial, and export opportunities offered by the zone.
Abdelatty expressed Egypt's aspiration to become a regional energy hub and its readiness to explore cooperation with Canada in the fields of clean energy technologies, liquefied natural gas, energy infrastructure, and climate change adaptation and mitigation projects. He also noted the broad range of investment incentives offered by the Egyptian government in priority sectors, including clean energy, solar panel manufacturing, the automotive industry, including electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and information and communications technology.
On regional issues, Abdelatty reviewed Egypt's ongoing diplomatic efforts and contacts aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region. The discussions also addressed the latest developments regarding the Palestinian issue, as well as the situations in Sudan and Lebanon. The Minister stressed the importance of reducing tensions and prioritizing political and diplomatic solutions to support regional security and stability.