Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and Zoghi Zadeh Zoghi Amin, Minister of Economic Development and Trade on the Tajik side, chaired the meetings of the third session of the Egyptian-Tajik Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, after the first session was held in 2009, then the second in 2019 in Cairo.
At the beginning of the committee’s work, the two ministers held a bilateral meeting to discuss mechanisms for developing Egyptian-Tajik relations that extend over decades, especially in light of economic developments at the regional and international levels, which require concerted joint efforts to support areas of development between the two countries, noting the necessity of regular meetings. The joint committee in order to advance joint relations and accelerate the pace of development efforts in the two countries.
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat indicated that Egyptian-Tajik relations are witnessing significant development during the era of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, based on the Egyptian state’s keenness to consolidate its relations with friendly and brotherly countries, which was clearly evident in the visit of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to Egypt in 2022, and the constructive discussions that took place. It was held with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat thanked the Tajik side for the joint coordination to hold the third session of the joint committee, which represents an effective mechanism for coordinating aspects of cooperation between the two countries, achieving common interests, and discussing future areas of cooperation, as well as consolidating relations between private sector companies, to increase… Joint investments.
*Joint cooperation documents*
During the committee activities, the Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation signed 3 cooperation documents with the Tajik side, which were agreed upon during the expert meetings, where a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan, to enhance trade exchange and economic partnership, and exchange experiences. In the areas of macroeconomic forecasting, improving modeling mechanisms, and developing and using new models for social and economic development in the two countries.
The memorandum of understanding also aims to exchange information and best practices on national initiatives and programs in the field of the digital economy, exchange experiences in the field of regional economic integration, and enhance cooperation in areas related to investment, support for entrepreneurship and all other aspects.
In another context, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat signed the joint work plan between the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones in Egypt and the Unified State Corporation of Tajikistan “tajinvest” for the period 2024/2025, which aims to establish a joint working group to implement a memorandum of understanding that was signed earlier, as well as Exchanging experiences and best practices in the field of services provided to investors, and exchanging experiences in investment promotion activities and strategies and improving the business environment.
The Minister also signed a cooperation agreement between Egypt and Tajikistan on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters, which enhances joint efforts towards facilitating the movement of goods in accordance with international standards and best practices, exchanging information, and assisting in the field of control and other areas and aspects of agreement.
The Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and her Tajik counterpart, signed the protocol of the third session of the Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which included 17 development areas of mutual interest from the two countries and in which they are working to advance cooperation, namely (trade, industry, investment, and cooperation between chambers of commerce). , cooperation between customs authorities, cooperation in the field of oil and gas, housing, environment, agriculture, irrigation and water resources, health, medicines, higher education and scientific research, culture, tourism, and youth. And sports.
During the ministerial committee, the two sides discussed investment opportunities available to Tajik companies in Egypt and partnerships with the Egyptian private sector, especially in the field of food industries, pharmaceutical industries, tourism, construction, furniture and textile manufacturing, and others. The two ministers also discussed ways to reach measures that would increase the volume of trade exchange and attract investments between the two countries, as well as cooperation in the field of free economic zones and the exchange of expertise in various industrial fields, renewable energy, and aluminium.
This is in addition to striving to increase the volume of cultural cooperation between the two countries, and participating in international cultural forums held in both countries, in light of the emphasis on the importance of the cultural dimension between the two countries, which plays an important pivotal role in their relations. This is due to the prominent position enjoyed by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Tajikistan, and the encouragement of mutual student scholarships between the two countries, as well as work to provide opportunities to support the establishment of centers for teaching Arabic language studies in the universities of Tajikistan.
At the conclusion of the committee’s work, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat confirmed that the committee witnessed constructive discussions to expand cooperation between the two countries at the level of the private sector. She also indicated that there are great prospects for exploiting the capabilities of the two countries to increase trade exchange and investments to rise to the level of ambitions, and to enhance the growing partnership in the sector. Industry, construction, building, pharmaceutical, food, furniture, tourism and others.
