KUALA LUMPUR – In the coming phase, Egypt-Malaysia bilateral relations should focus on several potential sectors and areas of cooperation including tourism, trade and investment, especially in palm oil and timber, information and communications technology (ICT), financial technology and health services, said Egypt's Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Hassan Shoukry.
He added that Malaysia was an advanced country in ICT and was on its way to becoming a regional digital hub in Southeast Asia.
"There is huge potential for cooperation between the two countries in this area, given that digital transformation is a high priority for Egypt, and offers a unique opportunity to transform several economic sectors such as financial services, retail, healthcare, agriculture and manufacturing, while creating opportunities for individuals and enterprises and impacting on inclusive development and economic growth," he said.
Sameh Shoukry said this in his reply to a written interview with Bernama in conjunction with his recent visit to Malaysia. He was asked what the focus of Egypt-Malaysia bilateral relations should be in the coming years. The minister made a three-day inaugural visit to Malaysia from March 14 to build on the momentum of prevailing robust ties between the two countries.
Egypt is Malaysia’s largest trading partner in North Africa. In 2021, Malaysia-Egypt total trade was valued at RM3.8 billion (US$904.1 million), a substantial increase of 84.5% on the total from 2020.
Sameh Shoukry added that climate change and various sectors related to the green economy are also potential sectors of cooperation, especially with Egypt hosting the 27th Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh in November 2022.
Replying to another question on the future outlook of Cairo-Kuala Lumpur relations, he said he was proud that bilateral relations look promising.
He said this was indicated by the positive momentum witnessed in bilateral discussions held last year between him and then Malaysian foreign minister (now Senior Defence Minister) Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein during his visit to Cairo in June 2021, which was preceded by a video conference between Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and then Malaysian prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
"This was an important initiative paving the way for the leaders of both countries to discuss ways and means of furthering bilateral relations between the two countries in different sectors including economy, trade, education, tourism and infrastructure development," Sameh Shoukry further said.
The Egyptian minister noted during Hishammuddin's visit to Cairo, the two sides agreed on a roadmap towards enhancing bilateral relations, and thus political consultations between the two countries were held in Cairo on Jan 30, 2022.
"As such, my visit to Malaysia builds on these positive steps and the vigorous momentum that was recently achieved," said Sameh Shoukry.
He described his visit to Malaysia as "a historical visit" for bilateral relations, especially given the fruitful and successful meetings that he held with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and several other ministers.
Sameh Shoukry pointed out that relations between Egyptians and Malaysians are historical and long-lasting.
He explained that although formal diplomatic relations started in 1959, the people-to-people relations started several decades earlier in the 1930s with the steady inflow of young Malay intellectuals and scholars, who were sent to Al-Azhar University to receive religious education.
"Al Azhar Al Sharief has always been recognised by Malaysian scholars as the ‘beacon of moderate Islam’, and its university as the ‘focal point and global centre for Islamic teaching and learning’,” he said.
Sameh Shoukry said the number of Malaysian students studying in Egypt has continued to rise over the years, and there are now more than 7000 Malaysian students studying in Egypt, in various fields including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and other areas of scientific research. – Bernama, March 28, 2022
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