Egypt’s Alexandria Port Authority and the Montenegro Ports Authority signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance maritime cooperation and study the establishment of a direct shipping link, during the first official presidential visit from Montenegro to Egypt since the establishment of diplomatic relations.
The signing ceremony was attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Montenegro President Jakov Milatović. Rear Admiral Ehab Salah, Chairperson of the Alexandria Port Authority, and Stanko Dretic, Chairperson of the Montenegro Ports Authority, signed the agreement in the presence of senior officials from both nations.
The MoU establishes an institutional framework for cooperation in port management and operations, exchanging expertise, digital transformation, capacity building, and environmental sustainability. Both sides aim to study the development of a maritime link between their ports to support supply chains and boost trade and investment.
The governments noted that their geographical locations on the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas provide broad prospects for a maritime and logistics partnership connecting European markets with the Middle East and North Africa. The agreement aligns with Egypt’s ongoing development of its port infrastructure, intended to strengthen the country’s position as a regional hub for transport, logistics, and transit trade.
Before the signing, Madbouly met with Milatović and a high-level delegation to discuss enhancing bilateral relations. The Egyptian premier welcomed the visit as a milestone that reflects a shared political will to elevate relations to an institutional partnership.
The Egyptian delegation included Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates; Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade; Abdelaziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Culture; Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry; Wael Hamed, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs; and Mahmoud Afifi, Ambassador to the Czech Republic and Non-Resident Ambassador to Montenegro.
The Montenegrin side included Nikola Camaj, Vice-President of the Parliament; Tamara Vujović, Minister of Culture and Media; alongside several government officials and business representatives.
Madbouly praised Montenegro’s intention to open an embassy in Cairo in the coming period, describing it as a critical step to launch a new phase of cooperation. He stressed the importance of fully activating a political consultation mechanism agreed upon last year, with a specific timetable to enhance cooperation in infrastructure, ports, trade, investment, culture, religion, and tourism.
Noting that trade volumes remain below the level of their political relations despite recent growth, Madbouly urged institutional efforts to set specific commercial exchange targets. He highlighted the energy sector as a promising area, expressing Egypt’s desire to draft a joint action plan covering electricity transmission, energy storage, market development, electrical interconnection, renewable energy, and green hydrogen. Madbouly also underscored tourism’s role in boosting investment, noting the success of existing Egyptian investments in Montenegro’s tourism sector.
Addressing the maritime MoU, Madbouly affirmed the Egyptian government’s interest in establishing a direct shipping line between the ports of Alexandria and Bar. He called it a strategic project to connect Egypt with the Western Balkans and Central Europe, and Montenegro with Africa and the Middle East.
Madbouly also praised cooperation between Al-Azhar and the Islamic Community in Montenegro in promoting moderation and tolerance, confirming Egypt’s readiness to expand imam training programmes and offer more scholarships to Montenegrin students. He commended Montenegro’s progress towards European Union accession and welcomed the formation of the first parliamentary friendship group between the two countries, noting the Egyptian House of Representatives is currently finalising its members.
President Milatović expressed pride in the evolving bilateral ties, stating his delegation aims to explore cooperation across parliamentary, investment, commercial, cultural, and educational fields. He noted the port MoU is a vital step in supporting logistical and commercial cooperation.
Milatović praised Egypt’s pivotal role in supporting peace and stability in the Middle East and containing regional crises. He also expressed a desire to enhance cooperation in civil aviation to facilitate travel, trade, and investment, and in education through university exchange programmes. Montenegrin Minister of Culture and Media Tamara Vujović added that her country looks forward to strengthening cultural and fine arts relations with Egypt.
The meeting covered regional and international issues, highlighting the need for de-escalation to mitigate negative economic impacts on global trade, supply chains, and energy and food security.
Madbouly concluded by directing Badr Abdelatty and Mohamed Farid Saleh to follow up on the talks’ outcomes and establish clear timeframes for implementation to achieve the mutual interests of both countries.
