Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Badr Atty, has expressed the country’s readiness to work more closely with Nigeria to deepen the diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Atty stated this on Monday in Abuja during a visit to Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, to discuss key foreign policy issues and economic development between Egypt and Nigeria.
According to him, Egyptian is committed to working with the Federal Government to implement policies and instructions by both countries’ leaders aimed at advancing relationship between them.
Atty said, “This relationship is very solid. It is based on solid foundation of historical, religious, cultural attachments between our two great nations and that is why I am here, upon instructions from President Abdel Farrah el-Sisi.
This is to give more push for enhancing our cooperation, especially bilateral. We have an excellent political relationship, but we need to translate it into a more robust economic, trade and investment relationship.
“Also to deepen consultations between the two biggest nations in Africa, Nigeria and Egypt, of course, to talk about different regional issues.
This is extremely important as global issues, because we are two super regional powers in our continent and, of course, we have a say on different African issues, as well as global issues.”
He said both countries’ leaders had elevated their relationship into strategic and comprehensive partnership that reflected their countries’ political will to deepen and enhance diplomatic relations.
Atty’s delegation included Egypt’s private sector representatives and governmental entities across infrastructure development, education, agriculture and food security, particularly in the area of the joint fights against terrorist ideology.
Others were representatives from industry, minerals, oil and gas, and pharmaceutical products to reiterate the country’s vision toward ensuring win-win for trade cooperation for both parties.
“These are giant sectors in our cooperation and we need to do more for the mutual benefits of our two great nations, and our two great peoples. We are fully committed to working with you to enhance our relationship.
“There is a desire by the Egyptian companies to stay and invest here and to do business in different sectors, and we are delighted to participate in the realisation of the modernisation vision by the President,” he said.
Earlier, Amb. Tuggar, commended the Egyptian delegation for the visit, saying it was a continuation of the ongoing dialogue centered on the comprehensive partnership which has been established between Nigeria and Egypt.
According to him, it formed part of the initiative that the two countries were working on to strengthen their ties and improve on trade.
“Our relationship dates back many years to Nigeria’s independence.
“We have instructions from our two leaders, President Bola Tinubu and President Abdel Farrah el-Sisi of Egypt, to improve the relations and that we work closely together because we share a lot in common.
“Nigeria and Egypt constitute one quarter of the population of the continent. So, this is something that is very much needed,” Tuggar said.
He said that both countries shared a lot in common on the platform of Developing Eight (D-8), the Organisation of Islamic Conference and several platforms they had been working closely together.
“The minister is leading a delegation of very important businesses from Egypt that we are ready, willing, and able to engage.
“We have equally prepared our very important private sector counterparts to engage with them, as well as relevant government, ministries, departments and agencies,” the minister said.