Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri began, on Wednesday morning, a two-day official visit to Egypt. She arrived at the head of an official delegation to take part in the 18th session of the Tunisian-Egyptian High Joint Commission, scheduled for September 10–11.
The commission, which alternates between the two countries, will focus on reviewing economic and trade matters and strengthening economic ties “in a global context that requires redoubled efforts to stimulate intra-regional trade and cooperation,” according to official statements.
The talks are expected to result in the announcement of a series of new agreements aimed at injecting greater dynamism into bilateral exchanges and better balancing the trade relations.
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics, Tunisian exports to Egypt reached 129.9 million dinars by the end of July 2025, compared to 87.3 million dinars a year earlier.
Imports from Egypt stood at 734.6 million dinars at the end of July 2025, against 687.5 million dinars in July 2024.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, this session aims to achieve a qualitative leap in bilateral relations by mobilizing all available levers, including the shared membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and COMESA.
Resilience to shifting dynamics
Cooperation between Tunis and Cairo has withstood regional and international geostrategic shifts, relying on historical and civilizational ties and shared societal values that have, over the years, laid a solid foundation for close collaboration across all fields. Recently, it has gained new momentum, marked by high-level contacts, exchange visits, and numerous mechanisms (joint commissions, technical and sectoral committees).
The two countries are bound by a dense legal framework covering the economy, trade, investment, tourism, health, education, higher education and research, culture, social affairs, and more.
They are also exploring new avenues in key sectors such as innovation, knowledge, digital transformation, renewable energy, and the green economy.
Tunis and Cairo are also working to remove obstacles hindering the flow of goods, in order to increase trade that is still deemed modest compared to the potential of both economies.
Sharing common spaces (Arab, African, Mediterranean), the two countries face the same challenges in light of regional and international developments and rapid transformations in the Middle East.
This requires more bilateral, regional, and international consultations to converge on regional issues. In this regard, the session will also serve as a forum for dialogue on regional and international matters of common interest, foremost among them the Palestinian cause and the situation in Gaza, where the occupation continues crimes of extermination and ethnic cleansing.
On the sidelines of the talks, Egypt will host the Tunisian-Egyptian Economic Forum, bringing together numerous investors from both countries to deepen cooperation in various economic and social sectors.
