Egypt is seeking to establish a joint business council with Latvia as part of efforts to deepen economic relations, increase bilateral trade, and attract new investment opportunities, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said during a meeting with Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty congratulated Braže on retaining her post following the formation of Latvia's new government, praising the strong relations between the two countries and their shared commitment to expanding cooperation across various sectors.

The Egyptian foreign minister highlighted the importance of maintaining regular political consultations between the two countries, referring to the latest round of talks held in Cairo in January 2025 at the level of assistant foreign ministers. He said the mechanism provides an important platform for coordinating positions on issues of mutual interest and following up on agreed areas of cooperation.

The two ministers reviewed opportunities to enhance economic and investment relations, particularly in digitalisation and information technology, areas in which Latvia has developed considerable expertise. Abdelatty noted that Egypt's ongoing digital transformation projects offer promising opportunities for investment and partnership.

He also proposed studying the establishment of a joint Egyptian-Latvian business council to strengthen communication between the business communities of both countries, encourage investment flows, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and explore cooperation with financial and investment institutions.

Abdelatty further expressed Egypt's interest in expanding trilateral cooperation with Latvia in Africa, highlighting Egypt's role as a regional hub for engagement with African countries.

The meeting also addressed several regional and international developments, including the latest progress in US-Iran negotiations and Egypt's efforts to support regional security and stability and contain crises across the Middle East.

The ministers additionally exchanged views on the Palestinian issue and the war in Ukraine, stressing the importance of intensified diplomatic efforts to achieve peaceful resolutions to ongoing conflicts and promote regional and international stability.