Ashraf AboArafe
In a diplomatic scene that reflects the growing harmony between Cairo and Ankara, the Joint Planning Committee between Egypt and Turkey convenes in Ankara, marking another step toward the upcoming High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between the two nations.
Turkish Ambassador to Egypt, Salih Mutlu Şen, announced that Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty will visit Ankara to attend the committee meeting, where both sides will coordinate preparations for the next session of the council and outline the roadmap for bilateral cooperation in the coming phase.
Ambassador Şen noted that political relations between Turkey and Egypt have gained remarkable momentum since November 2022, regaining their natural course following the restoration of ambassadors in mid-2023. The establishment of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in February 2024, co-chaired by Presidents Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, became a cornerstone mechanism for directing all forms of cooperation.
He recalled the reciprocal visits between the two presidents over the past two years — from Ankara to Cairo and vice versa — which symbolized a new era of partnership and culminated in the signing of 17 agreements defining the framework of cooperation across key sectors, including economy, energy, transport, culture, and education.
On the economic front, Ambassador Şen revealed that bilateral trade volume reached a record $8 billion in 2024, emphasizing that both nations successfully maintained and deepened their Free Trade Agreement, a testament to the resilience and competitiveness of their economies.
He highlighted the growing Turkish investments in Egypt, including the opening of the Beko household appliances factory in 10th of Ramadan City, the groundbreaking of Hayat Kimya’s projects in Ain Sokhna, and the expansion of facilities in Qantara West within the Suez Canal Economic Zone — affirming Egypt’s position as “an ideal destination for Turkish investors” thanks to its strategic location and skilled labor force.
Ambassador Şen likened the economic ties between the two nations to “interlinked ships sailing in the same direction,” underscoring the importance of fast and affordable maritime transport, with plans to launch RORO shipping lines soon. He also pointed to a threefold surge in Turkish tourists visiting Egypt following new visa-on-arrival policies — a number expected to increase fivefold this year.
On the cultural and artistic front, the ambassador unveiled a series of events marking the centenary of Turkish–Egyptian relations, including an Arabic calligraphy exhibition at the Egyptian Geographical Society, a display of traditional Turkish bridal gowns, and a joint Turkish–Egyptian classical concert featuring artists from the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT).
He added that Turkish filmmakers and artists will also participate in the 46th Cairo International Film Festival, with a reception planned in their honor, alongside leading Egyptian artists.
“These cultural exchanges,” Ambassador Şen concluded, “rekindle the warmth of our shared history, strengthen the bonds between our peoples, and open new horizons from the Bosphorus to the Nile—two rivers flowing toward a common destiny.”
