EGYPT wants to boost economic ties with the Philippines, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque told reporters at the DTI-WomenBizPH event on Monday.
“Our trade [with Egypt] is small. They’re trying to find ways for us to strengthen it. [We’re] in exploratory talks,” Roque said after meeting with Egyptian Ambassador Nader Zaki to discuss bilateral trade improvement, investment opportunities, and potential partnerships in agriculture.
Though a free trade agreement was not on the table, a bilateral committee will be convened for stronger trade relations, Roque said.
In 2023, Egyptian exports to the Philippines totaled $12 million, of which $2 million consisted of agricultural products.
The figures were nearly similar with Egypt imports from the Philippines totaling $12.5 million, 14 percent of which were agricultural products.
In 2025, Philippine agricultural trade with Egypt was “modest” at $7.5 million, with desiccated coconut and carrageenan as primary exports, and broths, soups, and dried kidney beans as imports.
In addition, “they’re interested in producing Egyptian cotton fabrics here. They want to introduce us to some of the Egyptian companies,” Roque said.
Also discussed were the coming visit to Manila of Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty and partnerships in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
