NEPAL- EGYPT RELATIONS

Political Relation

The bilateral ties between Nepal and Egypt have continued to strengthen ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on 16 July 1957. The opening of the Embassy of Nepal in Cairo in 1966 and the Egyptian Embassy in Kathmandu in 1970 have contributed to the advancement of mutual relations. Both countries are founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement and members of the UN, and the Group of 77 at the United Nations. Goodwill, friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding and trust have characterized the relations between Nepal and Egypt. Both the countries hold similar views on many issues of international concern, including the promotion of international peace, economic development, and climate change.

Nepal appreciates Egypt’s key role in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. Nepal endorsed the Camp David Accord signed by Egypt and Israel in 1978, which ultimately led to the signing of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel in 1979. Nepal recognizes the pivotal role played by Egypt in mediating the Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Deal between Israel and Hamas in the aftermath of 7 October 2023 attack. Nepal is of the view that Egypt’s role is of vital significance in realizing the aspirations of lasting peace and stability in the region.

Nepal and Egypt celebrated the 60^th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations on 16^th of July 2017. In the past, the 50^th anniversary was celebrated during the visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mrs. Sahana Pradhan to Egypt in July 2007 by marking the occasion by Egyptian cultural events and Arts shows.  

The MoU on establishing a bilateral political consultation mechanism between the Foreign Ministries was signed on 16 July 2007, and its first meeting was held in 2009 in Kathmandu. The consultation mechanism provides a regular platform for taking stock of bilateral relations and augmenting them further. Similarly, an MoU between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and Egypt was signed on 2 March 1996 under which the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to provide two annual training scholarships for Nepali diplomats. In 2023, diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal participated in a training program organized by the Institute of Diplomatic Studies for the first time.

High-Level Contacts between the Two Countries

Rt. Honourable Prime Minister Mr. KP Sharma Oli held a telephone conversation with His Excellency Mr. Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, President of Egypt on 12 March 2025. The conversation dwelt upon issues of mutual concern, cooperation in multilateral forums, importance of exchange of high level visits, holding the bilateral political consultation between the two Foreign Ministries, forging collaboration in educational, scientific and environmental fields, exchanges in climate change, etc, with the special mention of release of a Nepali citizen, Mr. Bipin Joshi, taken captive by Hamas during attack in Israel on 7 October 2024.  

On 20 January 2025, Hon. Foreign Minister, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba and His Excellency Dr. Badr Abdel-Atti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs of Egypt held a telephone conversation. During the call, the two foreign ministers discussed matters relating to promoting closer collaboration between the two countries in various fields. Foreign Minister Dr. Rana-Deuba also requested for Egypt’s assistance in facilitating the release of Mr. Bipin Joshi.

High-level Visits

High-level visits between the two countries have greatly contributed in enhancing the relations between the two countries. Following is a list of the major bilateral visits:

Visit from Nepal Side:

1. Late King Mahendra visited Egypt in October 1964 to participate in the Second NAM Summit.
2. Late King Birendra and Late Queen Aishwarya paid a State Visit to Egypt at the invitation of the Late President Anwar El Sadat in February 1981.
3. Representing Late King Birendra, late Prince Dipendra attended the funeral of Late President Anwar El-Sadat in October 1981.
4. Late King Birendra paid an unofficial visit to Egypt in September 1983.
5. The then Foreign Minister Mr. Krishna Raj Aryal visited Egypt in 1979 and signed the Scientific and Cultural Agreement between the two countries.
6. The then Ministers of Agriculture Ram Chandra Paudel and Padma Sunder Lawati visited Egypt in 1993 and 1996, respectively.
7. The then Minister of Water Resources Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana visited Egypt in September 1996.
8. Similarly, a Nepali delegation led by then Speaker of House of Representative Ram Chandra Paudel visited Egypt in September 1997 to participate in the 98th IPU Conference.
9. In September 1999, the then Minister for Agriculture Chakra Prasad Bastola visited Egypt.
10. Former King Gyanendra and Queen Komal visited Egypt from November 28 to December 2, 2005.
11. Then Minister for Foreign Affairs Mrs. Sahana Pradhan visited Egypt in 2007.
12. Hon. Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Mrs. Uma Regmi attended the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from November 6-18, 2022.
13. Minister for Finance Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat visited Egypt to attend the AIIB Board of Governors’ Meeting held in Sharm el-Sheikh from 25-26 September 2023.
14. Minister of Health and Population Mr. Mohan Bahadur Basnet paid a visit to Cairo, Egypt from 4-9 September 2023 to attend the Global Congress on Health, Population and Development (5-8 September).

Visit from Egyptian side:

1. Mr. Ahmed Shosukry, the then Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce visited Nepal in 1975 to conclude a Trade Agreement with Nepal.
2. Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghali, the then Egyptian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (former UN Secretary General) paid an official visit to Nepal in April 1980.
3. A delegation from the Egyptian Civil Aviation authority visited Nepal in August 1995 and signed the initials of the Air service Agreement between both countries.
4. In March 1996, Egyptian Minister for Electricity and Energy, Engineer M. Kaher Abaza, visited Nepal.
5. Similarly, Mr. Mohamed Nagui El-Ghatrey, Assistant Foreign Minister of Egypt visited Nepal in December 1998.
6. Dr. Ezzat Saad El Sayed, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt visited Nepal on a four-day visit in May 2005.
7. Ambassador Tamer Khalil, the Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs, paid a visit from 20 to 22 March 2008.

Trade & Commerce

A trade agreement was signed between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt on December 23, 1975. An Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the two countries was signed on July 16, 2007.

The following table shows the volume of bilateral trade in recent years:

Source: www.tepc.gov.np

Nepal participated in the Cairo International Exhibition held at the Exhibition Centre in Nasr City of Cairo from February 29 – March 9, 2024. The Exhibition was organized by Egypt’s Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Expo and Convention Authority. Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry Hon. Ahmed Samir inaugurated the exhibition. In a brief meeting following the inauguration, Minister Samir expressed his appreciation over Nepal’s participation. Several companies from Egypt, Libya and Kuwait showcased their wares and products in the exhibition.

Golyan Agro Ltd. of Nepal displayed the various FMCG and certified organic products (mainly super foods and herbal products) of its subsidiary company Mato, including tea (black, premium, gold, and chamomile), cassava flour, organic ginger, organic turmeric, mineral water, rosella, honey, cardamom and coffee. A three-member delegation including two officials from the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC) and one official from MoICS also participated. Meetings were arranged with potential buyer companies including LuLu Hypermarket, and Abu Aif, one of Egypt’s two major distributors of food products and spices. The Nepali exhibitors gained several key insights by participating in the Expo as well as from discussions with relevant buyer companies.

Tourism

Tourism could be one of the potential areas of Nepal-Egypt relations. Nepal can become a destination for the local population who visit abroad during the summer. Similarly, Nepal has tremendous scope for eco-tourism. Family tourism for a longer duration is another way to attract the Egyptian because of its climate.  There is a need of having direct flight to connect the two countries keeping in view the increasing air traffic.

The Embassy organized a familiarization trip for Egyptian travel companies and tour operators to Nepal from May 14-22, 2024, in collaboration with Nepal Tourism Board and Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways.

The Embassy, in cooperation with Jazeera Airways and Nepal Tourism Board, organized a FAM Trip for veteran Egyptian photo-journalist Ashraf Talaat from March 26-April 2, 2024 (Mustang) and May 20 – 25, 2024 (Lumbini). Mr. Talaat’s works have been featured in well-known platforms including National Geographic, Le Revue, Egypt Today, and Carnival. His books Vision, Point of View, and People and Moments in our Life feature the photographs taken by him in his earlier visits to Nepal.

Air Connectivity

With view to establishing air link between Nepal and Egypt, a Memorandum of understanding on Air Services was signed on 29 November 1997 by the two governments in Cairo to operate up to three passengers/cargo flights per week.

Humanitarian Assistance:

In the wake of devastating earthquake that hit Nepal on 25 April 2015, Egypt sent 18 tons of various relief materials and goods and Union of Arab Doctors (a private institution in Egypt) sent a team of doctors. Embassy of Nepal in Cairo had collected around Rs Six Lakhs and deposited it in PM Relief Fund.

MoU/Agreements:

1. Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and Egypt was signed on 16 July 2007 in Egypt during the visit of the then Minister of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Sahana Pradhan.
2. An Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation was signed on 16 July 2007 during the visit of the then Minister of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Sahana Pradhan. 
3. An Agreement on Executive program on cultural, scientific and technical cooperation for the period of 2008/2010.
4. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and Egypt was signed on March 2, 1996. Under the MOU, the institute for Diplomatic Studies of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to provide two annual training scholarships for the Nepali diplomats.
5. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Energy and Nepali Ministry of Water Resources signed on 04 March 1996. 
6. A Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement between Nepal and Egypt was signed on 12 February 1976 with a view to expanding the scope of cooperation in the fields of culture, science and technology

Educational and Cultural Cooperation

A Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement between Nepal and Egypt was signed on 12 February 1976 with a view to expanding the scope of cooperation in the fields of culture, science and technology. Pursuant to the Agreement, an Executive Program on Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the two countries was signed on 14 January 1994. This Executive program has been renewed in 2008. Under the program, Egypt is to provide technical assistance and scholarships in the areas of science and education, culture, youth, sports, tourism and agriculture.

The Government of Nepal values the scholarships provided by the Government of Egypt for medical studies. It is deemed pertinent that such scholarships help build people-to-people relations along with strengthening the relations in higher echelons. 

Central Asia, West Asia and Africa Division

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Singha Durbar, Kathmandu

March 2025