Canada-Egypt relations
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Bilateral relations
Canada and Egypt enjoy established and multi-faceted ties founded on over 65 years of diplomatic relations. In addition to maintaining strong development cooperation, growing trade ties, and vibrant people-to-people links, Canada works with Egypt to advance issues of mutual interest, including promoting peace, stability, and security in the Middle East and Africa regions.
Canadian engagement in Egypt
Key issues in Canada’s relationship with Egypt include:
- Growing bilateral trade
- Cooperating on international peacekeeping, including participation in the Multinational Force and Observers, in the Sinai
- Promoting democratic governance, pluralism and human rights (including the rights of women and girls and freedom of expression and association)
- Supporting inclusive growth and poverty reduction
Canada is an important destination for Egyptian immigrants, and there are approximately 100,000 people of Egyptian origin in Canada, forming vibrant communities across the country. The Canadian diaspora in Egypt, estimated at approximately 25,000 people, further illustrates the strong ties that bind Canada and Egypt together.
Trade relations
Two-way trade between Canada and Egypt has been growing in recent years and in 2021 totalled $1.91 billion. Canadian exports to Egypt were $627 million in 2021 and top Canadian merchandise exports to Egypt were iron, oil seeds and aircraft parts. Gold remains Canada's top import from Egypt, making up nearly 90% of the total in recent years. Other significant imports include textiles and clothing.
Education is a major component of Canada-Egypt bilateral relations. Based in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, the Universities of Canada in Egypt was inaugurated in September 2018 and hosts local branches of Canadian universities.
Canadian firms have sizeable investments in Egypt in the petrochemicals and the oil and gas sectors.
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Development
Canada supports development projects in Egypt by partnering with Canadian, local and international organizations. Canada’s development assistance in Egypt focuses on two Feminist International Assistance Policy action areas:
- Growth that works for everyone, by emphasizing employment for youth and women through skills development, and private and green sector development, with a focus on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls, by advancing reproductive health rights and services and improving policies and services to enable women to participate in the economy and decision-making processes.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Egypt work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- La Francophonie
- Pacific Alliance
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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