Opening Remarks Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade (MIFT), Arab Republic of Egypt. Mr. Artur Karpovich, Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, Republic of Belarus. Strengthening Business Community Connectivity and Productive Partnerships Between Egypt and Belarus. Held in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, as a continuation of the bilateral discussions within the framework of the Joint Committee, the meeting served as a strategic platform to explore mechanisms for advancing economic and trade cooperation and fostering a business environment conducive to sustainable industrial and investment partnerships. Discussions focused on developing direct and effective communication channels between Egyptian and Belarusian companies to accelerate cooperation, in line with the Egyptian government’s vision of empowering the private sector as a fundamental pillar and key driver of economic growth and deeper institutional relations between the two countries. In his remarks, Dr. Mohamed Farid, MIFT Minister, stated that joint business forums represent a pivotal gateway for transforming investment opportunities into tangible projects, affirming Egypt’s commitment to organizing such events on a regular basis to foster direct partnerships and strengthen coordination among financing institutions and capital markets. The Minister highlighted the advantages of expanding cooperation in the manufacturing and assembly of heavy equipment — including tractors, trucks, and buses — by leveraging the advanced infrastructure of Egypt’s industrial zones. He also emphasized the government’s openness to exploring various incentive mechanisms for joint ventures within frameworks of governance, transparency, economic feasibility, and profitability standards to ensure investment sustainability. For his part, Mr. Artur Karpovich, Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade of Belarus, stated that his country views Egypt as a strategic partner and a critical gateway to the markets of the Middle East and the African continent, emphasizing the strong interest in supporting and expanding direct engagement between the business communities of both countries. He explained that activating joint business councils and economic forums is essential for overcoming obstacles facing investors and creating genuine opportunities for integrated industrial partnerships based on technology transfer and the exchange of expertise and knowledge, particularly in priority productive sectors of mutual interest. Key Sectors: Heavy Equipment Manufacturing and assembly Business Councils and Investment Forums Governance and Feasibility of Joint Ventures Private Sector Economic Empowerment Key Speakers and Participants Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, MIFT Minister, Egypt Mr. Artur Karpovich, Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, Belarus Members of the Joint Business Council and representatives of private sector entities and companies from both countries Heads of delegations from regulatory and executive bodies concerned with Investment, Foreign Trade, and Competition Protection