Strengthening Tunisian-Egyptian Cooperation: A Priority for Both Governments
The reinforcement of Tunisian-Egyptian cooperation is one of the priorities of the governments of both countries, stated Egyptian Ambassador to Tunis, Bassem Hassan, on the sidelines of the 18th session of the High Joint Commission, which will be held in Cairo from September 8 to 11, 2025.
High-Level Meeting to Boost Cooperation
This high-level meeting, co-chaired by Tunisian Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zanzari and Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli, will bring together several ministers and high-ranking officials from both countries. The meeting will focus on examining new areas of cooperation and is expected to result in the signing of several agreements, memoranda of understanding, and executive programs in strategic areas, including trade, social development, youth, sports, diplomatic training, and scientific cooperation.
Objective: Intensifying Economic Exchanges
In an interview with the TAP agency, Ambassador Hassan emphasized the importance of accelerating the implementation of existing agreements and adding concrete operational mechanisms. According to him, the regional and international situation requires both countries to show "more solidarity and complementarity to address political and economic challenges."
Hassan indicated that the immediate objective is to double the volume of trade exchanges, currently estimated at nearly $500 million per year, to reach $1 billion in the near future. This ambition is considered realistic thanks to the adoption of practical measures to facilitate and stimulate trade flows during the last trade commission in Tunis in April.
Maritime Line to Boost Trade and Tourism
In the same context, the authorities are studying the creation of a direct maritime line between Tunis and Cairo. This project, according to the diplomat, would not only strengthen bilateral trade but also tourist and cultural exchanges, while offering a logistical lever for other forms of regional cooperation.
Private Sector at the Heart of the Partnership
Ambassador Hassan also stressed the need to involve private sector actors more. A large Tunisian-Egyptian Business and Investment Forum is scheduled to take place this week on the sidelines of the joint commission. It will bring together representatives of the main industrial and commercial federations of both countries, with the aim of establishing sustainable partnerships and promoting the emergence of regional economic alliances.
Several major Egyptian companies are showing growing interest in the Tunisian market, particularly in the field of infrastructure, he specified. In contrast, several Tunisian companies have successfully established themselves in Egypt in recent years. Both parties also intend to take advantage of their common membership in regional free trade agreements, such as COMESA, the Agadir Agreement, and the Arab Free Trade Area.
Security Cooperation: A Top Priority
Beyond economics, security cooperation is a top priority. Two bilateral commissions, one on security and the other on military matters, meet regularly and ensure coordination deemed "very effective." Both countries face common threats, including terrorism and attempts at regional destabilization.
"Security is the cornerstone: without security, there is neither development nor stability," Ambassador Hassan emphasized, highlighting the willingness of Presidents Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi and Kaïs Saïed to give new impetus to this strategic cooperation.
For the Egyptian diplomat, the holding of the 18th session of the High Joint Commission represents an ideal opportunity to take a new step in bilateral cooperation. "Tunisian-Egyptian relations are based on a solid foundation, but it is time to translate this framework into concrete actions that meet the aspirations of the peoples of both countries," he concluded.
