Egyptian Planning Minister Meets Tunisian Counterpart to Enhance Joint Cooperation
23 May 2024
H.E. Dr. Hala El Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, convened with Dr. Ferial El Wargi, the Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning, to explore avenues for bolstering cooperation in economic planning, development, and investment between Egypt and Tunisia.
Dr. El Said delineated the pivotal role of Egypt's Sovereign Fund and its investment opportunities. Additionally, she detailed efforts to enhance public investment efficiency, develop strategic plans, particularly aligning with Egypt's Vision 2030, and bolster capacity-building initiatives through collaborative efforts with institutions such as the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development and the National Planning Institute.
Highlighting the enduring and robust relations between Egypt and Tunisia, Dr. El Said underscored the historical ties binding the two nations, particularly in economic and cultural spheres. She commended the progress achieved in various domains over the years, reflecting the mutual commitment to deepen cooperation economically, boost trade exchanges, foster bilateral investments, and expand collaboration across diverse sectors.
Dr. El Said warmly accepted the invitation extended by the Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning to attend the fourth meeting of the Arab-African Trade Bridges Program Council, scheduled for July 2-3 in Tunisia. She emphasized the significance of leveraging such platforms to discuss strategies for enhancing regional and global trade and investment flows, particularly between Egypt, Arab nations, and African countries.
Furthermore, discussions encompassed collaboration within the framework of the Arab-African Trade Bridges Program, with Dr. El Said slated to assume the program's presidency during the upcoming sessions in July. She expressed optimism about the program's potential, under Tunisian leadership, to catalyze trade and investment between Arab and African nations, bolster the business sector, empower existing exporters, nurture new export opportunities, and forge partnerships to unlock economic potential in both regions.
Dr. El Said reiterated the importance of convening the Joint Egyptian-Tunisian High Committee periodically to fortify bilateral ties across all sectors.
The meeting also recalled the participation of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development in the expert-level activities of the Joint Egyptian-Tunisian High Committee on May 9-10, 2022, in Tunis. This session, co-organized by the Ministries of International Cooperation and Trade and Export Development, underscored agreement on cooperation in various areas, including economic planning, policy formulation, exchange of experiences, and human resource development.