Cairo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty emphasized the significance of enhancing economic relations and trade between Egypt and Austria, reflecting the historical friendship between the two nations.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Abdelatty expressed hope for the Austrian government's increased role in providing investment incentives and guarantees for Austrian companies in Egypt, and encouraged the Austrian business community to explore investment and production opportunities in the Egyptian market. He highlighted the potential for cooperation in the Suez Canal Economic Zone and expanding partnerships in renewable energy and green hydrogen. His remarks were made during a meeting in Vienna with Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, marking the first round of political consultations between the two countries.
The political consultations were launched under an agreement signed during Meinl-Reisinger's visit to Cairo in June 2025. During the meeting, the ministers signed an air services agreement to boost travel, tourism, and trade. They also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Museum of Art History in Vienna and Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. Abdelatty stressed the importance of enhancing coordination and exchanging expertise between museums, benefiting from international best practices.
Abdelatty expressed his aspiration to strengthen bilateral relations across various fields, intensify coordination on regional and international issues, and highlighted Austria's non-permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2029 term. He emphasized Egypt's commitment to working with Austria to boost bilateral technical and economic cooperation by reactivating the Egyptian-Austrian Joint Committee and expanding cooperation on legal migrant and seasonal worker training. An agreement is sought to regulate labor mobility and combat illegal migration.
The consultations also addressed regional issues, including developments in the Gaza Strip. Abdelatty stressed the importance of implementing the U.S. president's plan to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance and conditions for recovery and reconstruction. He emphasized enabling the Palestinian Authority to assume responsibilities in both the Gaza Strip and West Bank and condemned continued Israeli violations in the West Bank. The ministers exchanged views on Middle Eastern developments and discussed efforts to reduce tensions, highlighting the importance of adhering to the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. They also discussed developments in Syria, Lebanon, and Sudan.