Egypt, UK explore agricultural trade boost ahead of strategic partnership push

Egypt and the UK held on Sunday senior-level talks aimed at expanding agricultural trade and investment as the two countries prepare to elevate ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership later next year.

The meeting, held under the agricultural working group of the Egypt–UK Partnership Agreement, was led by Abdel Aziz El-Sherif, head of the Egyptian Commercial Service (ECS), and Rob Lally, head of Africa and Economic and Trade Relations at the UK Department. Officials from Egypt’s foreign ministry, customs authority, investment and foreign trade ministerial divisions, plant quarantine and veterinary services joined the discussions.

Talks focused on unlocking bottlenecks in agricultural cooperation and supporting rising UK demand for Egyptian produce. Egypt exported £197 million of fruit and £114 million of vegetables to the UK in 2024, according to government data.

Bilateral trade reached £2.9 billion in 2024, with Egyptian exports at £1.4 billion and imports from the UK at £1.5 billion. British investment in Egypt totalled £20.6 billion as of February 2025 across 2,103 companies, underscoring the UK’s position as one of Egypt’s largest foreign investors.

Both sides said there is “significant room” to increase agricultural exports and attract more British investment into Egypt’s food industries.

The talks form part of preparations for the UK prime minister’s planned visit to Cairo in fall 2025, expected to deepen economic cooperation and formally upgrade relations to a strategic partnership.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English