On 1978, Economic Cooperation and Encouragement of Investments agreement was signed between Egypt and Japan; it was stipulated to establish a joint committee between businessmen from both sides. On April 12, 1999, an agreement to establish the Egypt-Japan Business Council was signed in the presence of the Japanese Prime Minister and Egyptian President in Tokyo. The structure of the Council was approved for the partnership between the public and private sectors in both Egypt and Japan for joint work to support economic cooperation between the two countries, and a ministerial decision was issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade to form the Council on the Egyptian side, the presidency of the council since its inception (the late Dr. Abdel Monem Seoudi during the period from 1999 to the first half of 2012, Dr. Mervat Talawy during the period from the second half of 2012 to 2014, Mr. Eng. Ibrahim Mahmoud El-Araby during the period from the end of 2014 to date). The council works according to an action plan that is periodically updated to match the variables on the regional and international arenas in a way that serves the interests of its members in all commercial, industrial and service sectors, and in the first place support Egyptian-Japanese communication and rapprochement between the Egyptian and Japanese peoples, culturally, socially and economically. On the path of rapprochement between businessmen from the two sides, the General Secretariat of the Council periodically organizes joint meetings for Japanese businessmen and their Egyptian counterparts in cooperation with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosting the General Secretariat of the Council of the Japanese side, and these meetings are organized either in Japan on the sidelines of conferences and seminars held in Japan or in Egypt by hosting delegations of Japanese businessmen in cooperation with the Japanese organizers. The council is also keen on continuous communication with the Japanese side to present the elements of investment, partnership and business in Egypt through joint conferences of the Business Council in Japan and investment forums that are held for this purpose in conjunction with the relevant Egyptian authorities and ministries.