Cairo:Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar is set to visit Egypt in November, aiming to enhance political and economic cooperation between the two countries. Slovenian Ambassador to Egypt, Sašo Podlesnik, announced that she will be accompanied by a delegation of Slovenian businesspeople to promote trade.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Podlesnik highlighted the deep-rooted ties between Egypt and Slovenia, which are based on a long history of cooperation and interaction. He noted that although Slovenia gained independence in 1991, historical connections date back much further, citing Slovenian architect Anton Lašcak's contributions to several historic buildings in Egypt.

Slovenia established its first embassy in Africa in Cairo in 1993, illustrating Egypt's significance as a key player in Middle Eastern stability and a strategic gateway to Africa. The ambassador emphasized the embassy's role in advancing Slovenia's foreign relations and shared Slovenia's commitment to supporting peace in the Middle East.

Podlesnik also mentioned the longstanding friendly relations between the Slovenian leadership and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah EL Sisi, which are crucial to bilateral relations. He recalled that a former Slovenian president visited Egypt over a decade ago. Furthermore, he pointed out that Egypt exports products such as fruit and vegetables to Slovenia, with the Port of Koper serving as a vital gateway for Egyptian exports to Central European markets.

The ambassador stressed the potential for expanding scientific research cooperation between the two nations. He has visited several Egyptian universities that showed strong interest in developing future scientific partnerships. Podlesnik expressed his admiration for the Egyptian people, following his extensive travels across Egypt during his four-year diplomatic mission, and conveyed his desire to further economic and scientific partnerships in the future.