10 December 2023 01:36 PM

Bilateral Relations

Egypt and Germany

Monday، 18 July 2022 - 12:13 PM

Location

It is bordered on the north by Denmark and the Baltic Sea, on the west by the Netherlands, France and Belgium, on the south by Switzerland and Austria, and on the east by Poland

Area

It has an area of 357,032 km2 divided into 16 states.

Capital

Berlin

Currency

Euro

Language

German

 

Political Relations

Egypt and Germany enjoy a great and important position, as each of them has a clear political weight in international forums within the regional and geographical area to which the two countries belong.

Diplomatic relations between Egypt and Germany back to December 1957, the two countries also have bilateral and international common interests and interests.

On 15/11/2022, Ambassador Khaled Galal Abdel Hamid, Egyptian Ambassador to Germany, participated as a speaker in a panel discussion organized by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin on the effects of the Ukrainian war on the Middle East region, in which a large number of ambassadors accredited in Berlin and professors participated.

Abdel Hamid addressed Egyptian presidency efforts in COP27 Conference to bring points of view closer between the statues of industrialized countries, developing countries and different geographical groups on the priorities of climate action.

He highlighted the burdens borne by the budgets of developing countries, especially African countries, in order to implement their contributions climate change and implement their commitments to adapt and deal with loss and damage.

On 8/11/2022, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received the German Chancellor, Olaf Schultz on the sidelines of the World Climate Summit COP27, in Sharm El-Sheikh.

President El-Sisi welcomed the German Chancellor in Egypt, lauding the progress in Egyptian-German bilateral relations, across all political, economic, social and military fields. The President confirmed that this reflected on the rate and intensity of the exchange of visits between senior officials from both countries, notably the President’s recent visit to Berlin last July. President El-Sisi emphasized that Egypt seeks to bolster joint cooperation and strengthen political coordination with Germany in the coming period.

On 29/10/2022, Ambassador Khaled Galal Abdel Hamid, Ambassador of Egypt to Berlin, participated as a speaker in the expanded briefing session organized by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs on (COP27), in which a large number of state ministers and German government officials participated.

On 3/10/2022 Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, received the chief of the German Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Martin Schulz, in the framework of cooperation between Egypt and the foundation.

The meeting confirmed the importance Egypt attaches to its relationship with Germany as an important political and economic partner, and welcomed the work of German institutions in Egypt. At the forefront of these institutions is the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, which plays a supporting role in economic and social development efforts, in accordance with the provisions of the Additional Protocol to the cultural agreement regulating its work in Egypt.

On 21/9/2022, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry participated in the ministerial meeting of Munich formula on the peace process, held on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which includes Egypt, Jordan, Germany and France, in the presence of the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs,Security Policy and the Special Coordinator of the United Nations, and the United Nations for the peace process in the Middle East.

A joint statement was issued at the meeting, emphasizing the necessity of settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the two-state solution and resuming serious negotiations between the two parties as soon as possible.

On 14/8/2022, the German Embassy posted on “Facebook”: “The embassy offers its sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the Abu Sefein Church fire in the Imbaba Airport area, and we wish a speedy recovery for the injured and safety for all”.

On 17/7/2022, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with German Minister of Defence Christine Lambrecht.

President El-Sisi stressed that the Egyptian government and people hold in high esteem the close bonds they share with Germany. The President expressed interest in further enhancing ties at all levels within the partnership between the two countries, including the military field. This is in light of mounting regional challenges, mainly terrorism, which requires consolidating efforts to advance mechanisms to counter this transnational threat at the international level.

On 17/7/2022 President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met in Berlin with President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The meeting discussed regional and international issues of common interest. Those included developments in the Ukrainian crisis, the Libyan and Yemeni crises, and the Palestinian issue. The two sides agreed on the need to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause in accordance with the provisions of international terms of reference.

On 16/4/2022 The foreign ministries of Egypt and Germany launched a joint logo to commemorate 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The two countries had established diplomatic relations on October 16, 1952.

On 2/4/2022 Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry made a phone call to German Foreign Minister Annalina Birbock, during which they focused on ways to support bilateral relations at the political and economic levels. They also discussed developments in international issues of common interest, including the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

On 18/2/2022 FM Sameh Shoukry visited Germany to participate in the three-day Munich Security Conference which gathers a host of senior officials, ministers, heads of international organisations, and leaders to discuss the current international situation and the most prominent challenges and crises on the international front.

On 9/11/2021 President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi congratulated German Chancellor Angela Merkel on his social media page, in which he said: “I was honored by the joint work, fruitful cooperation and constructive regular consultation for seven years with German Chancellor Angela Merkel”.

On 1/11/2021 President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in the Scottish city of Glasgow, on the sidelines of the Climate Summit. The two sides discussed common concern issues.

On 18/10/2021 President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a call via videoconference from German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

During the call, President El-Sisi and Chancellor Merkel discussed ways to further advance bilateral cooperation in all fields, notably with regard to increasing trade and promoting German tourism in Egypt. This is in addition to fostering closer cooperation in efforts to address the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the areas of education and character-building for the new generation of students. They also tackled ways to step up cooperation in the fields of new and renewable energy.

The two sides lauded the progress in economic relations between both countries over the past years. This was demonstrated in the close cooperation and partnership between Egypt and a number of large German conglomerates, which participated in the implementation of unprecedented mega national projects in various areas. President El-Sisi and Chancellor Merkel confirmed the importance of expanding the size and scope of the two countries’ economic cooperation, to include economic and other industrial sectors. This aims to ensure that Egypt benefits from the German expertise in the development and upgrading of the manufacturing sector as a major drive for the national economy, on one hand, and opening a gateway for German exports to access African and Arab countries, on the other, as Egypt enjoys preferential trade advantages that make it an access point for products into these markets.

On 24/6/2021 Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed with his German counterpart Minister Heiko Maas the latest developments in the Egyptian-German bilateral relations, a number of bilateral issues, especially in the economic, health and energy sectors.

The top diplomats discussed the latest developments in the region and ways to reach resolutions to crises in the Middle East, at the top of which are the developments in Libya, the Palestinian territories and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

On 23/6/2021 Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry visited Germany to take part in the Berlin-2 conference on Libya.

In his speech at the conference, Shoukry will affirm Egypt's stance in support of protecting Libya’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as fulfilling aspirations of the Libyan people for a better future, and supporting the Libyan-led comprehensive political process to end the conflict in the country.

The foreign minister also call for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya and holding of the general elections on December 24 as scheduled, in a way that achieves security and stability across Libya.

On 23/6/2021 Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed with his German counterpart Minister Heiko Maas the latest developments in the Egyptian-German bilateral relations, a number of bilateral issues, especially in the economic, health and energy sectors.

The top diplomats discussed the latest developments in the region and ways to reach resolutions to crises in the Middle East, at the top of which are the developments in Libya, the Palestinian territories and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

On 9/10/2020 Wolfgang Schäuble, President of the German Bundestag, received Khaled Galal Abdel Hamid, Egypt’s Ambassador in Berlin, as part of his welcome to the ambassadors who presented his credentials during the past year. The sides promoting parliamentary cooperation between Egypt and Germany.

On 22/7/2020 Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told his German counterpart Heiko Maas, during a phone call, that reaching a political solution in conflict-torn Libya requires “firm” response to extremists and foreign interference.

On 8/6/2020 Germany welcomed Egypt's peace initiative in Libya announced by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, praising Egypt's constructive role in the United Nations efforts to achieve lasting stability in Libya.

On 19/3/2020 President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during which they discussed a number of issues related to bilateral cooperation frameworks between the two countries, as well as exchanging views on some regional files of common interest.

On 20/2/2020 Egypt strongly condemned the terrorist attack that targeted two cafe houses in the German city of Hanau, killing a number of people.

On 29/1/2020 President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during which they discussed the latest developments of the Palestinian cause and the peace process in the Middle East after announcing the American vision in this context, the developments of the Libyan issue and the follow-up to the results of the Berlin Summit.

On 19/1/2020 President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrives in Germany to participate in Berlin Conference on Libya at the invitation of German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

On 12/1/2020 President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which discussed the situation in Libya.

On 20/11/2019 President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, They discussed ways to enhance military cooperation, and developments in a number of regional issues, especially Syria and Libya.

On 17/11/2019 President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has made his fourth visit to Germany, this time to take part in the G20 Compact with Africa initiative that is led by Berlin.

He was received by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he also met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The two sides discussed a number of regional and international issues of common concern.

On 27/6/2019 Prime Minster Madbouly visited Germany to attend the 22nd session of the Arab-German Business Forum.

On 4/5/2019 Member of Bundestag Volker Kauder, visited Egypt, and was received by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

 The two sides discussed the latest developments in the political situation in the region and ways of cooperation between the two countries.

On 15/2/2019 President Abdel Fattah El Sisi arrived in Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2019.


-         On 16/11/2018 a German delegation headed by the Minister of Environment visited Egypt to participate in the Fourteenth Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
It was received by Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, the two sides discussed ways of joint cooperation in the field of environmental work.

-         On 28/10/2018 President Abdel Fattah El Sisi visited Berlin to participate in the mini-summit of African presidents and premiers who are members in the G20 Africa Partnership initiative.

-         On 29/6/2018 Speaker of the House of Representatives Ali Abdel Aal, leading a parliamentary delegation, visited Berlin on an official visit at an invitation of President of the German Bundestag Wolfgang Schäuble.

-         On 25/5/2018 Volker Kauder, the majority leader in the German Parliament, visited Egypt, he was received by the Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar.

-         On 15/2/2018 Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited Germany to participate in the International Politics and Security Conference in Munich

-         On 16/9/2017 Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) Chairman Mohab Mamish visited Germany. The visit was so fruitful, as he reviewed the investment advantages and incentives for German investors in the zone.

On 10/9/2017, Al Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed el Tayyeb visited Germany to participate in "Paths of Peace" conference held in Germany's Münster. German Chancellor Angela Merkel received el Tayyeb.  During the meeting, the two sides probed cooperation between Al Azhar and Germany, the conditions of Rohingya Muslims in Burma, Al Azhar's patriotic role and various issues of common interest.

On 27/8/2017
, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held important talks with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel in Berlin. The meeting dealt with bilateral relations and ways to boost them in the various fields in light of distinguished historic relations.

On 11/6/2017
, President Sisi arrived in Berlin to attend the G20 Africa Partnership Conference. Sisi had talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He attended a round table on private investment in infrastructure projects in African countries. The president also met with a host of German ministers. He also attended the opening session of the Egyptian-German economic forum.

On 24/5/2017
, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayyeb laid a wreath of flowers in the site of a terrorist truck attack in Berlin.

 
On 15/5/2017 Minister Plenipotentiary Khaled Azmy, Director of the International Counter-Terrorism Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed a delegation that included representatives of ministries and state agencies concerned with the file of combating international terrorism, visited Germany to attend the first meeting of Egyptian-German bilateral consultations on issues of combating international terrorism.

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On 27/4/2017, Investment Minister Sahar Nasr visited Germany to participate in the 20th International Women Summit.

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On 19/3/2017 Gerhard Schroeder, the former German chancellor, and Martin Hernknecht, chairman of the German company Hernknecht, which manufactures giant drilling rigs, visited Egypt, and were received by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.


On 2/3/2017
German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Egypt, she was received by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The two sides discussed regional and international issues of common interest, facing the current challenges, and ways of cooperation between the two countries

-         On 2/3/2017, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail met with German Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser in the presence of Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker.

-          On 21/2/2017 Vice-President of the German parliament (Bundestag) Johannes Singhammer visited Egypt, he was received by president Abdel Fatah El sisi, the two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors.

-          On 17/1/2017 Dr. Issam Fayed, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, visited Germany, to participate in the activities of the Ninth International Forum on Food and Agriculture, which was received by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

-          On 14/7/2017 Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held a session of talks with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier as part of his talks with German officials during his current visit to Berlin. In their talks, the two top diplomats discussed means of boosting the bilateral relations, followed up the joint cooperation programs in various fields and both consulted over the regional issues.

-          On 12/11/2016 Alexander Radwan, a member of the German Parliament (Bundestag) for the Christian Democratic Union, visited Egypt, and was received by Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

-          On 1/11/2016 Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received German National Security Adviser Christoph Heusgen for talks on several regional topics and following up the file of Egyptian-German relations. Shoukry asserted at the meeting Egypt's keenness on enhancing bilateral relations.

-          On 12/7/2016 Minister of Interior Magdy Abdel Ghaffar arrived to Berlin for a two-day visit to Germany. He was accompanied by a high-level security delegation to discuss means of fostering bilateral ties especially in combating terrorism. The minister discussed with German officials cooperation between the two countries in security domains. The two sides also signed an agreement for cooperation in the security sector.

-          On 12/7/2016 Minister of Interior Magdy Abdel Ghaffar arrived to Berlin for a two-day visit to Germany. He was accompanied by a high-level security delegation to discuss means of fostering bilateral ties especially in combating terrorism. The minister discussed with German officials cooperation between the two countries in security domains. The two sides also signed an agreement for cooperation in the security sector.

-          On 21/6/2016 President Sisi met President of the Deutsche Bundesbank Jens Weidmann and Germany's national security adviser Christoph Heusgen. Sisi praised economic cooperation between the two countries, highly appreciating the contribution of German companies to development projects in Egypt. The meeting also tackled challenges to Middle East security and stability, as well as efforts to counter terrorism.

-          On 3/6/2016 Trade and Industry Minister Tarek Qabil and International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr met German officials during their visit to Berlin. The two ministers met with members of the German-Egyptian Parliamentary Friendship Group at the German Bundestag, where they reviewed Egypt's latest political and economic developments.

-          On 16/4/2016 German Vice Chancellor, Economy and Energy Minister Sigmar Gabriel arrived on an official visit to Egypt. The German official is accompanied by a delegation of 120 investors. The delegation met President Sisi to discuss a number of issues of mutual concern, particularly in the economic field. Several agreements and memoranda of cooperation between the two countries were signed during the visit.

-          On 30/3/2016 President Sisi met visiting German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière. Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar was present at the meeting.

-          On 13/3/2016 Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed Al Tayeb arrived in Berlin for a several-day visit to Germany, at an invitation of President of the German Bundestag Norbert Lammert. During the visit, Tayeb visited the German parliament, where he delivered a speech to the West about the Islamic values and principles. He also participated in a global religions conference under the title of "Peace be upon you".

-          On 12/2/2016 Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry visited Germany to participate in the 52nd session of the Munich Security Conference.

-          On 1/2/2016 delegation of the German Bundestag, headed by Alexander Radun, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the German Parliament, visited Egypt, where he was met by Dr. Shawki Allam, Mufti of the Republic, the two sides discussed strengthening cooperation with the Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta

-          18/1/2016 Issam Fayed, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, visited Germany to head Egypt's delegation at the 26th Berlin Agricultural Summit.
He was met by Thomas Silber Oren, Parliamentary Minister of the Federal Ministry of State for Economic and Development Cooperation. The two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in the agricultural field.

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-          On 3 / 6 /2015, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi visited Germany, President Joachim Gauck met him.
The two presidents held a session of talks. The meeting witnessed an exchange of views on the recent death sentences in Egypt. German Chancellor Angela Merkel received President El-Sisi. The two sides held a session of talks Expanded with the participation of the delegations of the two countries, punctuated by a working lunch and followed by a joint press conference.

-          On 4/5/2015, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi discussed with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier ways of boosting cooperation at all levels, particularly trade and military ones. They discussed the latest developments in Egypt and its ongoing war on extremists.

-         On 30/3/2015, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met with majority leader of the German parliament Volker Kauder. Talks tackle boosting cooperation between Egypt and Germany as well as Arab and regional developments.

-         On 7/2/2015 Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry visited Germany to participate in the International Security Conference that is being held in Munich. Shoukry met his German counterpart Frank Steinmeier, the two sides discussed developments on the regional and international arenas of interest to the two countries.

-          On 15/1/2015 Marcus Lönning, Commissioner for Human Rights Policy in the German government, visited Egypt, and was received by Hisham Badr, Assistant Foreign Minister for Multilateral Affairs and International Security. The two sides stressed the importance of mutual cooperation in the field of supporting and protecting human rights and confronting terrorism.


-          On 9/11/2014, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met at the headquarters of the Presidency with Mr. “Heerenknecht”, founder and chairman of the largest German company specialized in the design and manufacture of tunnel drilling and construction machines. The meeting reviewed the results of the contacts made with the company to dig tunnels as part of the giant national projects that implemented by Egypt.

-          On 2/9/2014  Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry visited Germany and met with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. They discussed enhancing ties binding the two countries. Shoukry praised the distinguished ties between Cairo and Berlin in the various domains. He also expounded the achievements of Egypt's democratic change according to the roadmap.

-          On 5/2/2014, Former Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy met his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier for talks on boosting national economy, creating more jobs for Egyptians, improving living conditions, luring investments and fighting terrorism.

-          On 4/12/2013 Ambassador Fatima Zahra Atman, First Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met a high-ranking German diplomatic delegation headed by Ambassador "Volkmar Wenzel", Personal Representative of the German Foreign Minister for Arab World Affairs and Assistant Foreign Minister for the Middle East and North Africa.


Economic Relations

Trade exchange

On 17/7/2022, data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAMPS) revealed that Egyptian exports to Germany had risen to $848.2 million during 2021, compared to $646.1 million in 2020, with an increase of 31.3%.

The value of Egyptian imports from Germany reached $4 billion during 2021, compared to $3.9 billion in 2020, with an increase of 1%.

The value of trade exchange between Egypt and Germany also increased to $4.8 billion in 2021, compared to $4.6 billion in 2020, with an increase of 5.2%.

The most important Goods exported by Egypt to Germany during 2021

1-    1 Air and space vehicles with a value of $95.7 million.

2-    clothes worth $87.4 million.

3-    fruits, worth $67.1 million.

4-    machines, electrical appliances and equipment, worth $58.7 million.

5-     seeds valued at $58.2 million.

The most important goods imported by Egypt from Germany during 2021

1-    cars, tractors and bicycles, worth $972.9 million.

2-    boilers, machinery and mechanical devices, with a value of $808.3 million.

3-    pharmaceutical products, worth $443.8 million.

4-    plastics with a value of $209.2 million.

5-    machines, electrical appliances and equipment, worth $207.7 million.

German commodity investments

The value of commodity investments in Egypt amounted to $300.2 million during the fiscal year 2020/2021, compared to $267.9 million during the fiscal year 2019/2020, with an increase of 12.1%.

The value of financial remittancefrom Egyptians working in Germany recorded $130.7 million during 2020/2021, compared to $117.6 million during 2019/2020, with an increase of 11.1%.

Remittances from Germans working in Egypt amounted to $9.9 million during 2020/2021, compared to $12.4 million during 2019/2020, with a decrease of 20.3%.

There are workforce of 25,000 Egyptians working in 1180 companies, in which German capital contributes, and about 175,000 Egyptians working also in companies in which German capital generally contributes.

The traditional Feilds of German investment and economic activities are the energy sector, mining, transport, infrastructure and future technologies.

The volume of the ongoing development cooperation projects in Egypt reach about 6.1 billion euros.

With the exception of the energy sector, the cooperation focuses on vocational training, drinking water and sanitation, urban development and improving public services for citizens.

Germany ranked first with the highest imports to Egypt from European countries, which reached $3.3 billion during the first 10 months of 2021, compared to $3.2 billion during same months of the previous year, with an increase of $67.7 million.


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