BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 17. Egypt has great
potential for cooperation with Azerbaijan in the fields of energy
and infrastructure, Minister of Planning and Economic Development
and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Governor for Egypt, Ahmed
Rostom, told Trend
on the sidelines of the 51st Annual Meeting of the IsDB Group held
in Baku.


He mentioned that the further strengthening of the strategic
partnership between Egypt and Azerbaijan creates new investment
opportunities in the fields of infrastructure, energy,
pharmaceuticals, and logistics.


According to the minister, the demand for infrastructure
investments is growing rapidly on a global scale, and by 2030, the
annual investment need in this area is expected to reach $29
trillion.


"On the one hand, this indicates an increasing need for
governments to provide high-quality infrastructure projects to
ensure a high quality of life for citizens. On the other hand,
public-private partnership projects create great opportunities for
economic growth and job creation. Expanding infrastructure
investments is an important factor in terms of accelerating
economic development and increasing employment," he said.


Rostom noted that such international events bring together
government agencies, financial institutions, and private sector
representatives, creating conditions for identifying investment
opportunities.


"Such platforms serve to present fundable projects, discuss
opportunities for expanding private sector participation, and
promote concessional financing, risk-sharing, and management
mechanisms. At the same time, they play an important role in the
development of cross-border economic integration, policy
coordination, and the creation of mutually beneficial cooperation
models," the minister emphasized.


Speaking about the prospects for economic cooperation between
Azerbaijan and Egypt, Rostom noted that relations between the two
countries have further strengthened in recent years.


"The visits of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to
Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev to Egypt have raised the
strategic partnership between the two countries to the highest
political level. This creates conditions for opening new investment
and cooperation opportunities," he noted.







According to the minister, infrastructure, pharmaceutical
industry, and energy sectors are among the most promising areas for
cooperation.


"There is a wide potential for cooperation in the fields of
renewable energy, the oil and gas sector, and the development of
energy infrastructure. Egypt has extensive experience, especially
in the construction of pipelines and the creation of energy
infrastructure, and is ready to share this experience with
Azerbaijan," he said.


Rostom added that the development of logistics and transport
relations between the two countries is also of particular
importance.


"Both countries have significant experience in the management
and development of economic corridors. Sharing this experience,
further harmonizing trade rules and regulatory frameworks can
facilitate the movement of goods and services. Also, establishing
partnerships between logistics hubs located in Azerbaijan and Egypt
can contribute to the acceleration of global trade flows," he
emphasized.


The Egyptian minister noted that cooperation on public-private
partnership (PPP) projects also has great prospects.


"Egypt has private and state-owned companies with extensive
experience in implementing large infrastructure projects. Egyptian
companies have implemented successful projects in Africa and the
Gulf countries in the field of construction of airports, dams, and
other large facilities. I believe that at the next stage it is
possible to direct this experience to the development of the
Azerbaijani economy, implement joint projects and expand
cooperation for the sake of common prosperity," Rostom added.