Politics · Other · 12 hrs ago
Egypt and Thailand seek stronger trade and investment ties
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met Thai officials in Bangkok during a visit to Thailand.
He discussed political, economic and development cooperation, including with Thailand’s industry minister and deputy prime minister and finance minister.
The two countries said they want stronger trade, investment and economic ties and to share experience in economic and financial reform.
Their cooperation can also build on Egypt’s 2016 agreement with ASEAN, the Southeast Asian regional group.
Unofficial estimates put bilateral trade at about $1 billion in 2025, up 37% from the previous year.
The discussions aim to turn political ties into practical opportunities, including investment and industrial cooperation, but no specific next steps were announced.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas agreed on the importance of strengthening economic, trade and investment cooperation.
They discussed exchanging expertise in economic and financial reform and mobilising investment.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of a dinner hosted by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for delegates to the annual autumn meetings of the IMF and World Bank.
Egypt and Thailand also discussed cooperation through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, under a cooperation agreement signed in 2016.
Unofficial estimates put bilateral trade at about $1 billion in 2025, up 37% from the previous year.
- Who
- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas.
- What
- They discussed strengthening economic, trade and investment cooperation and exchanging expertise.
- When
- Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Where
- At a dinner in Thailand hosted for delegates to the IMF and World Bank annual autumn meetings.
- Why
- To deepen economic ties, exchange expertise in economic and financial reform, and mobilise investment.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Abdelatty met Thailand’s House Speaker and Industry Minister in Bangkok to discuss political, economic, trade and investment cooperation.
Abdelatty met Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas at a dinner for delegates to the IMF and World Bank annual autumn meetings.
- Trade volume
- About $1 billion in 2025, according to unofficial estimates
- Trade growth
- 37% above the previous year
- Cooperation agreement
- Egypt and ASEAN signed an agreement in 2016
- Meeting participants
- Badr Abdelatty and Ekniti Nitithanprapas
- Meeting occasion
- Dinner hosted by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul
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What people are saying
The visit of the Egyptian foreign minister to Thailand and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s Asian tour reflect the integration of presidential and diplomatic efforts to strengthen Egypt’s political and economic presence in Asia, expand its international partnerships, and build more diverse relations with emerging economies and global centres of production, technology and trade.
This does not mean replacing one international partnership with another; rather, it means establishing a balanced network of relations based on mutual interests and respect for the independence of national decision-making.