Egypt and France have formally launched their first strategic dialogue in Cairo, marking a new phase in bilateral relations following the elevation of ties to a strategic partnership in 2025. The meeting, led by senior officials from both foreign ministries, focused on strengthening cooperation across economic, political, and development priorities, according to an official statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs .
Discussions placed strong emphasis on expanding financial and economic cooperation, particularly through the implementation of the 2026–2030 intergovernmental framework. Both sides highlighted the role of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), which has supported key projects in Egypt for two decades, and welcomed the signing of nine financing agreements worth €262.2 million during President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit. These agreements target priority sectors including transport, energy, and housing, while France also reaffirmed its support for Egypt’s Universal Health Insurance programme through dedicated financing.
The dialogue further addressed major infrastructure and sustainability initiatives, notably cooperation on Cairo Metro Line 6 and the Green Sustainable Industry project, reflecting a shared commitment to green development and industrial transformation. Both countries also agreed to advance negotiations on migration frameworks, with progress expected on agreements covering legal mobility, vocational training, and returns in the coming weeks.
Beyond economics, the talks underscored growing collaboration in culture, education, and scientific research, including plans to expand Francophone education, launch new French academic programmes in Egypt, and strengthen joint research initiatives. Cooperation in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and digitalisation within the creative economy was also highlighted as a future priority.
On the international front, Egypt and France reaffirmed alignment on key global and regional issues, including climate change, biodiversity, and multilateral coordination, alongside continued consultation on Middle East developments and African affairs. France also expressed support for Egypt’s integration into the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor initiative.
The strategic dialogue concluded with both sides emphasizing the importance of sustained coordination to address regional challenges and deepen economic ties, with the next round of talks scheduled to take place in France in 2027.
