ROME (ITALPRESS) – Italy and Egypt see a partnership based on history, common interests, and a strategic position in the Mediterranean. This is the opinion of the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Italy, Bassam Essam Rady, interviewed by Claudio Brachino for Diplomacy Magazine, the geopolitical column of the Italpress agency.
These two countries, according to the ambassador, play a central role in regional balances: “When it comes to peace, stability, and security in the Mediterranean, I believe that Egypt and Italy are among the most important.” Rady emphasized how bilateral relations have now reached a particularly positive level, encompassing various sectors, from the economy to tourism, from culture to transportation, and even cooperation on security issues.
“In Egypt, we are proud that relations between our countries are better than ever,” he stated, also recalling the historical bond between two ancient civilizations, the Pharaonic and Roman. This relationship finds one of its main expressions in economic cooperation. Trade between Italy and Egypt has reached €6 billion, and over 150 Italian companies operate in the country.
“It’s not yet at the level we’d hoped for, but it’s still a positive result,” the ambassador explained, citing among the joint projects the maritime corridor between the ports of Trieste and Damietta, an infrastructure designed to foster trade and strengthen commercial links. According to Rady, Egypt is looking with interest at the contribution of Italian companies in the country’s infrastructural transformation.
“We appreciate Italian technology, your know-how, your commitment to doing business together, and Italian products,” he stated, emphasizing the opportunities still available in various economic sectors. Another key aspect of bilateral relations is tourism. After a decline in visitor flows in the years following the Arab Spring, the number of Italian visitors has returned to over one million.
“Twenty years ago, around one million Italians visited Egypt every year. Today, we have surpassed this number again,” the ambassador noted, highlighting Red Sea resorts such as Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, and Marsa Alam, as well as the northern coast, as the destinations of greatest interest to Italian travelers.
Among the topics discussed was the New Administrative Capital, one of the main projects of the Egyptian development program. “Ten years ago, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi launched a major national project to build over twenty new cities across Egypt. The new administrative capital is one of these, but it represents the crown jewel of the entire project,” explained the head of the diplomatic mission in Rome.
The new city, located east of Cairo, houses the government district and aims to accommodate millions of residents. For Rady, it also represents an opportunity for foreign investors: “It’s an opportunity for Italian entrepreneurs who wish to invest in Egypt,” he noted, calling the cooperation a win-win situation.
The ambassador finally referred to the broader process of modernizing the country’s infrastructure, which includes new road, energy, and water networks. “Egypt is experiencing a new phase in its history, what we call the New Republic,” he stated.
Within this evolution, relations with Italy remain a central element of Cairo’s foreign and economic policy. “We consider Italy our gateway and our main point of reference towards the European Union,” Radi concluded, reiterating the desire to continue on the path of cooperation between the two countries.
-Photo Italpress-
(ITALPRESS).
