Ashraf AboArafe
On Friday, July 24, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates, met with Sugiono, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, Philippines.
Key Highlights of the Bilateral Talks
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Deepening Strategic Relations: Minister Abdelatty emphasized the high priority Egypt accords to its relations with Indonesia, reiterating Cairo’s commitment to building upon the agreements reached by both nations’ political leaderships.
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Institutional Ties with ASEAN: Egypt highlighted its growing partnership with Southeast Asian nations and praised Indonesia’s pivotal role as the host state for the ASEAN Secretariat. Abdelatty noted Egypt’s dedication to strengthening institutional cooperation since joining the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in 2016.
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Multilateral Coordination & D-8: Both sides reaffirmed mutual support for diplomatic candidacies in international forums, shared positions on nuclear non-proliferation, and agreed to enhance coordination within the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation during Indonesia’s 2026–2027 presidency.
Economic & Trade Collaboration
“Egypt seeks to elevate trade and investment volumes to match the strategic partnership between both nations, leveraging competitive advantages like the Suez Canal Economic Zone.”
— Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Foreign Minister of Egypt
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Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE): Egypt presented the SCZONE as a premier regional hub for manufacturing and logistics, offering Indonesian businesses a strategic gateway to African and Arab markets.
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Agricultural Trade: Discussions focused on deepening agricultural cooperation and removing non-tariff barriers facing Egyptian fruit and vegetable exports to Indonesia.
Regional & Humanitarian Priorities
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Middle East Stability: Abdelatty urged unified international efforts to resolve regional conflicts diplomatically, adhering to international law, the UN Charter, and state sovereignty.
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Gaza Strip Support: The Egyptian Foreign Minister commended Indonesia’s firm rejection of the displacement of Palestinians and praised Jakarta’s continuous delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, alongside close coordination on Palestinian statehood across international bodies.
