Manila; According to Cairo's ambassador to the Philippines, who spoke to Arab News, Egypt is looking to improve cooperation with the Philippines through handicraft. He noted that the two nations' peoples are similar in many ways and that this could lead to more positive relations between the two nations.

In 1946, Egypt and the Philippines established diplomatic ties. The only diplomatic representation of Manila in the African and Arab region until the middle of the 1970s was its embassy in Cairo, which was established in the 1960s.

Every industry has the potential to strengthen ties between Egypt and the Philippines, according to Egyptian Ambassador Ahmed Shehabeldin, but he thinks handicrafts have the most potential.

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Shehabeldin said to Arab News on the eve of the Egypt National Day celebration in Metro Manila, "I would love to invest in cultural products.

"In Egypt, for instance, we have 'tally. This is gorgeous and it was made by hand. To make this high-end, we must invest in it. You start by that because it's handmade and handcrafted, he advised.

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A traditional metal thread embroidery known as tally, also called assiut or tulle-bi-telli, which translates to "net with wire," is a netting fabric named after its birthplace, Asyut, in the 19th century.

"You have to invest in people, your culture, and your heritage," Shehabeldin said.

More interpersonal interaction, according to the Egyptian representative, will be essential.

There are many similarities between the people of Egypt and the Philippines, so I see potential, the man declared.

Shehabeldin stated that he is exploring the possibility of working with the Philippines, but he did not elaborate.

Agriculture has been a recent area of cooperation between the two nations. Citrus exports from the Middle East to Southeast Asia began last month as a result of a 2022 agreement.

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Citrus exports from Egypt accounted for 5.9% of global exports of citrus in 2021, according to data from the French world economy center CEPII.

Shehabeldin is urging Egyptian companies to go to the Philippines in order to strengthen ties even more.

And I urge Egyptian businesspeople who enjoy foreign investment to visit the Philippines.