The Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, Dr. Khaled Hanafi, met with the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the United Kingdom, Sherif Kamel, in the presence of the Minister Plenipotentiary, Head of the Commercial Office at the Egyptian Embassy, Tamer Mustafa, and the Secretary General of the Arab-British Chamber, Bandar Ali Reda.
Talks during the meeting focused on the holding of the second Arab-British Economic Summit, organized by the Arab-British Chambers, as part of the Chamber's ongoing activities to enhance cooperation between the United Kingdom and the Arab world, in light of the great promising opportunities between the two sides.
The Secretary-General of the Union spoke during the meeting, stressing the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership between the United Kingdom and the Arab countries, with a focus on how to reshape trade relations between the two sides in light of technological change and climate change for business priorities.
He noted the role played by the Arab-British Chamber in promoting Arab-British economic relations, as well as the role played by the embassies of Arab countries accredited to the United Kingdom in this regard. He praised the performance of the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Commercial Attaché in the context of maximizing Egyptian-British relations, as the Egyptian Embassy is one of the very active embassies in the context of raising the level of economic, trade, and investment relations between Egypt and Britain.
During the meeting, the Secretary-General of the Union suggested establishing a strategic partnership between Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Britain, through the establishment of huge investment projects in several important and promising sectors, both in the low-carbon economy, especially in the post-pandemic stage and after Britain’s exit from the European Union. As well as in healthcare, education, financial services, hospitality, real estate, transportation, logistics and other key sectors, especially in industries based on new emerging technology.
Hanafi stressed, “Egypt is a pivotal country, and through a strategic partnership with both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Britain, it can be the main gateway to Africa, from this standpoint, serious and solid foundations should be laid, which would contribute to raising the level of relations between the three parties, to a strategic partnership.”
Hanafy noted the renaissance that Egypt has witnessed in recent years, led by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which is manifested in the implementation of mega and strategic projects, in addition to strengthening the investment environment through the adoption of laws and legislation that attract investment. Pointing out “there is a real Egyptian desire to achieve more reforms aimed at motivating and encouraging Arab and foreign investors to invest in Egypt in various sectors, and this was confirmed by President Sisi at the last "Egypt Economic Conference 2022", where he outlined the roadmap's economic parameters, in which the state can proceed in the coming period.”
For his part, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sherif Kamel, praised the outstanding ideas presented by the Secretary-General of the Union, Dr. Khaled Hanafi, during the meeting, which would draw new features for the shape of relations between countries. Especially in light of the fundamental changes that the world is witnessing, since the start of the Corona pandemic, and then the outbreak of war in Ukraine.
He said: We need more efforts at all levels, whether at the level of business owners or governments, to double the volume of trade exchange, strengthen economic partnership, and build joint projects in various productive and service sectors.
As for the Secretary-General of the Arab-British Chamber, Bandar Ali Reda, he explained that "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt are strategic allies, and the Kingdom is one of the countries that have huge investments in Egypt, through their location and strategic relationship, they can play a pivotal role in developing economic relations with each other and with the rest of the world, especially the United Kingdom.”
He commended the role of the Egyptian Embassy in Britain, calling for the formation of a working group consisting of the General Secretariat of the Arab-British Chamber and the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and from the General Secretariat of the Union of Arab Chambers, to set plans and perceptions that are in the framework of strengthening Arab-Arab economic relations and Arab relations with the rest of the world, including Britain.
Source (Union of Arab Chambers)
