Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom met on Sunday, June 14, 2026, with the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Egypt Elkhan Polukhov to discuss ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation, advancing economic relations between the two countries and exchanging expertise in the field of sustainable development.
The meeting comes amid growing momentum in Egyptian-Azerbaijani relations, supported directly by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. During an expanded meeting, Rostom expressed his deep appreciation for the historic and strategic partnership between Egypt and Azerbaijan, emphasizing his aspiration to work closely with Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy to exchange perspectives and shape a new phase of economic cooperation that supports development efforts in both countries.
He also highlighted Egypt’s adoption of advanced digital mechanisms to monitor progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Rostom praised the successful outcomes of previous sessions of the Egyptian-Azerbaijani Joint Committee, noting that they had effectively opened new avenues for cooperation across various sectors.
He stressed that the current period presents an ideal opportunity to capitalize on the strengths and capabilities of both countries in a manner that directly supports development efforts and accelerates the growth of bilateral economic ties. For his part, Polukhov asserted Azerbaijan’s strong appreciation for its longstanding and robust relations with Egypt, emphasizing the commitment of both countries’ leaderships to continuously strengthen cooperation in line with current priorities.
He particularly highlighted the positive outcomes of El-Sisi’s landmark visit to Baku and Aliyev’s visit to Cairo. Polukhov outlined ongoing preparations for the upcoming Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank Group in Baku, as well as Azerbaijan’s hosting of the next summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
These events will feature discussions and the adoption of major regional and development projects with significant international impact.