Egyptian, Serbia Investment FMs discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation

CAIRO - 26 March 2026: Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh held a meeting with Jagoda Lazarević, Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade and Commissioner General of Expo 2027 Belgrade to discuss ways to enhance economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and arrangements for Egypt's participation in Expo 2027 Belgrade, May-August 2027.

 

The meeting, held via video conference, in the presence of Ambassador Ahmed Salama Suleiman, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Republic of Serbia.

 

The meeting included discussions on various areas of partnership, emphasizing the importance of strengthening bilateral relations and opening new horizons for cooperation in the fields of industry, trade, and investment.

 

This aims to contribute to achieving the common interests of both countries, support economic growth, and reinforce the strong historical ties between the political leaderships in Cairo and Belgrade.

 

The meeting also addressed the ongoing preparations for Egypt's participation in Expo 2027 Belgrade, including reviewing investment and trade opportunities for companies and investors from both sides, and enhancing economic and cultural cooperation during this international event.

 

The two sides highlighted the free trade agreement signed between their countries last year, emphasizing the need to activate all its provisions to open new markets for mutual exports.

 

 

Expo Belgrade 2027

 

Expo 2027 is one of the most important and largest international multilateral events, organized under the auspices of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). It serves as a strategic platform for participating countries to promote their investment and tourism opportunities and build long-term economic and trade partnerships, thus contributing to development efforts at both the regional and international levels.

 

The Expo is scheduled to take place in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, from May 15 to August 15, 2027, and is expected to attract more than 4 million visitors and participation from over 120 countries.

 

Dr. Farid congratulated the Serbian government on hosting Expo Belgrade 2027, affirming Egypt's commitment to ensuring its participation in this global event is effective and impactful, reflecting its regional weight, especially as it comes in response to the kind invitation extended to His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

 

The Minister explained that Egypt is currently preparing a comprehensive proposal for its participation in the exhibition, ensuring maximum benefit from this international event in promoting promising investment and industrial opportunities. He also commended the Serbian side for its commitment to providing all necessary support and facilitations to guarantee a distinguished Egyptian participation.

 

For her part, Ms. Jagoda Lazarević, Minister of Internal and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Serbia, revealed her country's intention to strengthen its economic presence in the region by exploring the establishment of a trade and economic office within the Serbian Embassy in Cairo. This would be Serbia's first such office in Africa, reflecting Belgrade's recognition of Egypt's position as a key logistical and commercial hub in Africa.

 

The Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade extended an invitation to his Serbian counterpart to visit Egypt this year to follow up on joint cooperation files and to work on increasing reciprocal trade and investment missions between the two countries in the coming period.

 

The Serbian Minister welcomed the invitation and extended a similar invitation to the Egyptian Minister. An official delegation is expected to pay a visit to Serbia in conjunction with Expo 2027 Belgrade next year, which will contribute to strengthening the economic partnership between the two countries and consolidating frameworks for joint cooperation.

 

The meeting was attended by Minister Plenipotentiary for Trade Essam El-Naggar, Chairman of the Egyptian General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences; Dr. Abdel Aziz El-Sherif, Head of the Trade Representation; and Minister Plenipotentiary for Trade Ashraf Hamdi, the Minister's Advisor for Institutional Communication.