Habi_ Engineer Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry, participated on behalf of Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, in the celebration of the National Day of the Czech Republic, in the presence of Jakub Šlosárek, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Egypt, alongside a number of ambassadors and Egyptian and foreign government officials.
At the beginning of his speech during the ceremony, Engineer Khaled Hashem, on behalf of the Egyptian government, extended his sincere congratulations to the government and people of the Czech Republic, wishing them continuous prosperity and further progress in the bilateral relations between Egypt and the Czech Republic.
The Minister stated that Egypt and the Czech Republic share diplomatic relations spanning over a century, as relations between the two countries began in 1922, and the partnership has continued to grow over the past decades based on mutual respect and growing cooperation in economic, trade, and industrial fields.
He pointed out that relations between the two countries are not limited to diplomacy and trade, as decades of Czech archaeological research in Egypt—particularly in the Abusir archaeological area—alongside growing tourism, educational, and cultural exchanges, reflect the deep-rooted human bonds uniting the two peoples.
Hashem explained that the second session of the Egyptian-Czech Joint Economic Committee, held in Prague in July of last year, marked a milestone in strengthening the economic partnership, identifying new opportunities, and consolidating ties between the business communities of both countries.
He noted that the business forum accompanying the committee, which included representatives from about 40 Czech companies and their Egyptian counterparts, emphasized the interest of both countries' business communities in creating new opportunities for trade and investment.
The Minister stressed that the growing momentum in trade activities has reflected on bilateral trade relations, as the volume of merchandise trade between Egypt and the Czech Republic reached approximately USD 800 million during the past year, an increase of over 25% compared to 2024.
He added that joint investment cooperation has begun to yield tangible results, with Czech companies establishing industrial facilities in Egypt, while Egyptian investments exist in the Czech Republic, particularly in the manufacturing and research and development sectors.
He pointed out that this cooperation demonstrates the significant potential of the partnership between the two countries, laying the foundation to expand its scope beyond the exchange of final products into joint manufacturing, technological development, and integration into regional and global value chains.
Hashem explained that industrial development is at the top of Egypt's economic priorities, pointing out that the country's strategic geographical location, skilled labor force, advanced infrastructure, equipped industrial zones, and wide network of trade agreements make Egypt an ideal gateway for companies wishing to establish factories and access markets comprising over 1.5 billion consumers in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
He noted that the Ministry of Industry is working, through its strategy, to build an integrated industrial base, increase production and exports, deepen local manufacturing, and attract advanced technological investments that contribute to the production of high-value-added goods, stressing that enhancing the role of the private sector and supporting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises represent two fundamental pillars of this strategy.
In this context, the Minister pointed out that the high industrial and technological capabilities of the Czech Republic offer promising opportunities for cooperation and mutual benefit, particularly in the fields of industrial machinery, automotive components, electrical equipment, transport technologies, and water management, alongside renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the decarbonization of the industrial sector.
He explained that cooperation in these areas can support Egyptian industry in increasing productivity and meeting international standards, noting that combining Czech engineering and technological expertise with Egyptian manufacturing capabilities and access to regional markets will establish a strong foundation for new industrial partnerships that contribute to expanding production, creating jobs, and enhancing the competitiveness of both countries' economies.
At the conclusion of his speech, Hashem expressed his aspiration for the continued development of Egyptian-Czech relations and the capitalization on promising opportunities between the two countries, noting Egypt's eagerness to build upon the progress achieved in bilateral cooperation, inject new investments, expand industrial partnerships, and transform mutual interests into sustainable outcomes that benefit both countries.
