Cairo: Algeria and Egypt have signed 18 agreements, memorandums, and cooperation programs across multiple sectors at the conclusion of the ninth session of the Algerian-Egyptian High Joint Committee in Cairo. The signing ceremony was attended by Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb and his Egyptian counterpart, Mostafa Madbouly.

According to Anadolu Agency, the agreements encompass various fields, including interior affairs, finance, energy, industry, trade, and housing. Additional areas covered include higher education, scientific research, vocational training, youth, sports, culture, and social solidarity. Furthermore, memorandums were signed on accreditation, agricultural research, archiving, consumer protection, and local development, along with an agreement on energy transition and renewable energy.

The ceremony also featured executive programs related to youth, sports, culture, vocational training, and social affairs, as well as a cooperation protocol on public administration. Earlier, Ghrieb and Madbouly conducted bilateral talks, which were later expanded to include both delegations before the committee's opening session.

Ghrieb emphasized the importance of stronger Algerian-Egyptian coordination to safeguard the two countries' interests in the global gas market, highlighting energy as a central strategic issue in international relations. Official Algerian data indicates that bilateral trade with Egypt surpassed $1 billion in 2024, an increase from $872 million in 2023. Both nations aim to elevate trade volume to $5 billion in the future.

On the investment front, the Algerian Agency for Investment Promotion reported that it has recorded 21 projects by Egyptian investors since 2023, including 12 joint ventures with Algerian partners. The agency's head, Omar Rekkache, acknowledged the positive experiences of Egyptian companies operating in Algeria during a meeting of the joint Egyptian-Algerian Technical Committee for investment. Currently, Egyptian investments in Algeria exceed $3 billion.

This session marks the ninth meeting of the joint committee, which has convened eight previous rounds, with the most recent held in mid-2022 in Algiers. During that session, both parties signed a series of agreements and memorandums across multiple sectors.