Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim Begins Official Visit to Egypt
Cairo, The Gulf Observer: Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Egypt on Sunday, November 10, for a four-day official visit at the invitation of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The special flight carrying Prime Minister Anwar and his delegation landed at Cairo International Airport at 6:30 pm local time, where they were warmly welcomed by Egypt’s Prime Minister Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, Malaysian Ambassador to Egypt Datuk Mohd Tarid Sufian, and other senior officials. Upon arrival, the Prime Minister inspected a Static Guard of Honour, manned by 16 personnel.
Accompanying the Prime Minister are key members of the Malaysian Cabinet, including Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Energy Transition and Water Transformation Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii, and other officials.
On Monday, November 11, the Prime Minister is scheduled to receive an official welcoming ceremony at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace, followed by a private meeting with President El-Sisi. The two leaders will then engage in bilateral discussions. Prime Minister Anwar and President El-Sisi will also witness the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MOUs), including a collaboration agreement between Malaysia and Al-Azhar Al-Sharif’s Faculty of Islamic Studies, as well as an MOU on cooperation in religious affairs between the two nations.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Anwar will deliver a public lecture at the prestigious Al-Azhar University and hold a roundtable meeting with Egyptian industry leaders.
Egypt has become an important trade partner for Malaysia, being the fifth-largest trading partner among African nations. In 2023, bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to RM3.35 billion. From January to September 2024, bilateral trade reached RM3 billion, reflecting a 21.4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. The trade volume is expected to surpass last year’s figures by the end of the year.
