Egypt and Romania seek deeper maritime, energy ties on 120th diplomatic anniversary

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and newly appointed Romanian Foreign Minister Dan Neculaescu discussed enhancing bilateral economic, energy, and maritime transport cooperation during a phone call on Tuesday, as the two nations mark 120 years of diplomatic ties.

The call focused on developing joint cooperation across various levels, with Abdelatty congratulating Neculaescu on assuming his new role and emphasising Cairo’s commitment to upgrading bilateral relations to reflect the depth of their historical links and serve mutual interests.

Abdelatty highlighted the importance of growing commercial and investment relations by building on the outcomes of the fourth Egyptian-Romanian Joint Committee. He noted this would open new avenues for cooperation in agriculture, energy, and natural gas, while leveraging the opportunities provided by the Egypt-EU comprehensive partnership.

The ministers also explored ways to enhance logistics and maritime transport, specifically by linking the ports of Alexandria and Constanța. The transport coordination aims to support trade movement, exchange expertise in port management and operations, and boost bilateral investments.

During the call, Abdelatty stressed the importance of capitalising on Egypt’s strategic location, the capabilities of the Suez Canal, and its free trade agreements with African countries, alongside Romania’s distinct position as a primary gateway to European markets.