The remarks came during a meeting with Dr. Amer Bisat,
Lebanese Minister of Economy and Trade. The two discussed avenues for joint
cooperation. The meeting took place during the tenth session of the
Egyptian-Lebanese Joint Higher Committee. The session is co-chaired by the
Egyptian Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International
Cooperation and the Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade.
Dr. Al-Mashat said the tenth session will open new areas of
cooperation. She affirmed both countries’ commitment to promoting joint
development. She reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Lebanon in restoring security,
stability, and development.
She stressed that her ministry will work with Lebanon to
exchange expertise in economic and development policy. The cooperation will
cover planning, development, and international collaboration.
Al-Mashat also highlighted the readiness of Egyptian
companies with extensive experience to participate in reconstruction efforts.
She noted their contributions to mega national projects. These include
industrial and agricultural zones, modern urban communities, and the creation
of fourth-generation and smart cities.
Dr. Bisat, Lebanese Minister of Economy and Trade, affirmed
his country’s keenness to expand relations with Egypt. He welcomed Lebanon’s
opportunity to benefit from Egypt’s development experience. He invited Dr.
Al-Mashat to participate in the first Beirut Investment Conference in November.
The conference will stimulate investment in Lebanon and discuss key economic
issues.
Both ministers emphasized joint coordination to follow up on
the outcomes of the tenth session. They stressed cooperation between relevant
entities in both countries to support the growth and development of bilateral
relations.
It is worth noting that the ninth session of the committee
resulted in the signing of four agreements. They covered tax expertise
exchange, communications and information technology, investment promotion, and
the import of Egyptian building materials.
Bilateral trade between Egypt and Lebanon reached
approximately one billion US dollars in 2024. This compares to 774 million US
dollars in 2023, marking a 29.3 percent increase.