The Egyptian Chamber of Commerce in Alexandria, led by Ahmed Al-Wakil, recently held a farewell ceremony to honor Karen Vasilian, the Consul General of the Russian Federation in Alexandria. This recognition was given in appreciation of his efforts in supporting economic and trade relations and fostering communication between the business community in Alexandria and the Russian side during his tenure as Consul General.
Ahmed Al-Wakil, head of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that the Russian Consul was a valued friend to the chamber and the Alexandria business community. He noted that Vasilian successfully created strong relationships with chamber members and opened new channels for developing trade and investment across various sectors since taking office.
Al-Wakil highlighted Vasilian's extensive diplomatic experience, having served in Russian embassies in several countries and held leadership positions in the Middle East and North Africa department and the Consular Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry before taking on his role in Alexandria in August 2020.
The cooperation with the Russian Consul did not only focus on supporting bilateral economic relations but also extended to developing multilateral relations, particularly within the BRICS bloc, where the chamber chaired its business council during Russia's presidency of the alliance. Vasilian played a significant role in fostering cooperation with the Russian Chambers of Commerce in various fields.
The volume of trade exchange between Egypt and Russia reached about $10 billion, with Egyptian exports to Russia showing significant growth, reaching $810 million in 2025 and continuing to grow to $613 million by July 2026. The two countries also saw increasing investment cooperation, especially with the launch of the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project and work on establishing a Russian industrial zone within the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
Recently, in September 2026, the two sides discussed ways to simplify customs procedures, use electronic documents, and develop new logistics routes during meetings between Egyptian and Russian officials. Al-Wakil expressed appreciation for Vasilian's efforts on behalf of the business community, wishing him success in his future endeavors.
The farewell ceremony was attended by members of the chamber's board of directors, including Dr. Yasser Al-Manaweshy, Engineer Mahmoud Mar'i, Engineer Ahmed Al-Katib, Engineer Al-Badawi Al-Sayed, Engineer Ashraf Abu Ismail, Mohamed Hafni, Dr. Omar Al-Ghanimi, Engineer Mohamed Fathallah, Amr Maisilhi, Engineer Ismail Abu Hamda, Engineer Sharif Baqtar, and Engineer Ashraf Al-Jazairli.
Key points
- The Egyptian Chamber of Commerce in Alexandria honors Russian Consul General Karen Vasilian for his efforts in enhancing economic and trade relations between Egypt and Russia.
- The volume of trade exchange between Egypt and Russia reached about $10 billion, with Egyptian exports to Russia showing significant growth.
- The two countries are working on simplifying customs procedures, using electronic documents, and developing new logistics routes.
