The committee convenes reflecting the Egyptian state’s keenness, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to advance joint Egyptian-Lebanese relations, which are characterized by historical and strategic robustness and an enduring bond. Egypt and Lebanon have long represented a unique model of genuine Arab fraternity.
The expert meetings include the participation of Egypt's
Ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, Lebanon's Ambassador to Egypt, Ali
Al-Halabi, and representatives from over 50 Egyptian and Lebanese entities.
The Egyptian representation includes the Ministries of
Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriate Affairs, Industry, Health,
Social Solidarity, Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Finance, Agriculture,
Electricity, Tourism, Investment, Supply, Manpower, Education, Youth and
Sports, Local Development, Military Production, Civil Aviation, Transport,
Housing, Endowments (Awqaf), Public Business Sector, Higher Education,
Education, Culture, Water Resources and Irrigation, Environment, and Justice.
It also includes the Consumer Protection Agency, the Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA), the National Media Authority, the
Central Agency for Organization and Administration, the Central Bank, the
Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), the Competition Protection Authority, the
Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority
(EIPA), the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA), the National Training
Academy (NTA), and other national bodies.
From the Lebanese side, representatives of the Council of
Ministers and the Ministries of Economy and Trade, Finance, Industry, Labor,
Agriculture, and Information participated.
Experts from both sides are discussing a wide range of
issues on the agenda to increase trade volume and maximize benefits from trade
facilitation agreements.
Topics also include: Developing joint investments,
especially in industrial investment.
Encouraging private sector relations.
Developing small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMES).
Exchanging expertise in developmental planning, sustainable
development, and capacity building.
Specific areas for capacity building and expertise exchange
include: policy formulation, the integrated planning and follow-up system, and
conducting surveys and censuses.
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning and Economic
Development and International Cooperation, affirmed Egypt’s keenness to advance
and strengthen relations with the sisterly state of Lebanon for the mutual
development benefit of both countries through joint cooperation. She emphasized
that Egypt stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Lebanon, driven by a long history
of vital relations connecting the two sisterly nations. She added that Egypt
always looks forward to diligent joint work with the Lebanese Republic to
achieve exceptional bilateral relations in various fields, ensuring qualitative
leaps and steady momentum by continuously addressing any hindering obstacles.
Economic and technical cooperation between Egypt and Lebanon has evolved since the agreement establishing the Joint Higher Egyptian-Lebanese Committee was signed in Cairo in 1996. The ninth and most recent session of the Joint Committee was held in Beirut in May 2019. This session resulted in the signing of four key documents and the minutes of the meeting, covering: tax expertise exchange, communications and information technology (CIT), investment promotion, and import of Egyptian building materials.