On the 23rd of July, in commemoration of the "Revolution of 1952", the Egyptian people celebrates the day marking the beginning of the road to national independence and modernization of the Egyptian nation.

This popular revolution still represents a driving force for the pursuit of a better future for millions of Egyptians.

Over the course of history, both Bulgarian and Egyptian civilizations enjoyed many opportunities of contacts and exchanges. They contributed to the human civilization at large, and shared common heritage, which still stands witness to the historical ties between the two peoples. Furthermore, the historical experiences and the deep-rooted civilizational interaction allowed the two countries to benefit from the accumulated wisdom of their ancestors, and to project their knowledge and share their respective experiences for the benefit of their larger regions and the world.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries over 90 years ago, Egypt and Bulgaria developed stronger ties of friendship based on mutual respect, common values and shared interests. Both countries continue to acknowledge the important role of one another. On the one hand, Bulgaria is a leading country in the Balkans, as well as a member of both the European Union and NATO. Egypt, on the other hand, is a major regional power in the Middle East, the Mediterranean and the African continent.

In recent years, the strong political will of both countries leadership came together to create a new dynamic contributing to deepening and expanding cooperation between the two countries. Important bilateral meetings were held, including the meeting between H. E. President Abdel Fattal el-Sisi, the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and H. E. Mr. Kiril Petkov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, in Brussels on February 18^th, 2022. This meeting gave impetus to the relations between both countries, and opened horizons to enhance cooperation in different fields including energy, anti-corruption, innovation, information technology, security cooperation, and trade particularly in agricultural products. The Egyptian Embassy in Sofia is keen on actively following on the summit outcomes to ensure the full implementation of what has been agreed on to further develop cooperation between the two countries.

As a practical manifestation of the political will, both sides agreed to launch the High level Governmental Commission, and the Egyptian-Bulgarian Business Council. Furthermore, the two sides are engaged to conclude a number of MoUs that will boost ties in different fields including defense, energy, education, culture and scientific research.

In recent years, bilateral ties saw a period of expansion in which trade relations marked 1.3 billion USD in 2019. Investments are also registering an increase where more Egyptian investors are exploring the possibilities in the wider markets of Bulgaria and the EU in sectors such as construction, agriculture and energy. Bulgarian investors are reciprocating by injecting investments in the Egyptian market, mainly in IT and the services sector.

In Egypt, the country has embarked on a very ambitious economic reform program embodied in the "Sustainable Development Strategy: Egypt’s Vision 2030". The strategy focuses on enhancing the business environment to attract more foreign direct investments, increase resilience and the performance of Egyptian economy, and enhance social cohesion. To this end, the Egyptian government started in 2015 the implementation of a national development strategy based on a vision to modernize and upgrade the infrastructure and major sectors of the economy including industry, agriculture, energy and services. In addition, mega national projects are underway to build a new Administrative Capital and 14 other major cities in the different regions of Egypt. Land projects are extending the agriculture land by about 2 million acres.

The Egyptian political leadership is not only concentrating on the physical development of infrastructure and the economic sectors, but is also giving high priority to social programs, modernizing education, developing a nationwide health insurance system and multiplying the construction of social housing to satisfy the growing needs of the population. This vision is reflected in the "Decent Life Initiative" aiming at achieving immediate and urgent intervention to honor Egyptian citizens and ensure their dignity and their rights to enjoy a decent life. The initiative represents a model of integration and consolidation of efforts among the national state institutions, the private sector institutions, civil society, and the development partners working in Egypt. It seeks to provide an integrated package of services including various health, social, and living aspects for around 50 million Egyptians. The aim of Decent Life Initiative includes closing the developmental gap between the urban centers and the villages and their dependencies, investing in human development, and enhancing the skills of the targeted citizens.

In these challenging times facing the global community and the international system, Egypt is pursuing a policy that strengthens multilateralism based on collaboration and peaceful interaction of nations. More than ever, the world needs unity and solidarity to face the complex challenges across the borders. In this regard, health challenges, food insecurity and shortages, malnutrition, rising energy prices, disruptions of the supply-chain networks, and rising inflation worldwide, represent a host of challenges that demand a common response.

Once again, the Egyptian embassy in Sofia looks forward to deepen the longstanding friendship between Bulgaria and Egypt, and to explore different avenues for further beneficial cooperation between the two governments and peoples.

His Excellency Mr. Khalid Ibrahim Emara,

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Republic of Bulgaria

The photo was provided by the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the Republic of Bulgaria. On it: H. E. Mr. Khalid Ibrahim Emara, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Republic of Bulgaria