Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, chaired this evening, Thursday, the meeting of the committee concerned with strengthening Egyptian-African relations.
The meeting came in the presence of Lieutenant General Engineer Kamel Al-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development, Minister of Industry and Transport, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, Dr. Hani Sweilem, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Dr. Badr Abdel Ati, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptians Abroad Affairs, Dr. Sameh Al-Hafni, Minister of Civil Aviation, and Alaa El-Din Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Director of Crisis Management at the Armed Forces Operations Authority, Menna Farid, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt for the Foreign Relations Sector, Dr. Naglaa Al-Nazhi, Advisor to the Governor of the Central Bank for African Relations, Ambassador Ashraf Sultan, Assistant Minister of Finance for Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Amani Al-Wasal, Head of the Foreign Agreements Sector, Director of the Export Development Fund, Minister Plenipotentiary Fadel Yacoub, Director of the African Countries Department at the Commercial Representation Authority, and a number of officials from the relevant authorities.
The Prime Minister began his speech by emphasizing the importance of Egyptian-African relations. And the priority it represents in Egyptian foreign policy, referring to the visits and movements of Egyptian diplomacy at the continent level. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly stressed the need to follow up on projects agreed upon with sister African countries that meet their ambitions for comprehensive development.
The Prime Minister indicated that the Council of Ministers had approved yesterday a proposed financing mechanism. Investment in the Nile Basin countries, with the aim of supporting development projects in the Nile Basin countries.
During the meeting, Dr. Badr Abdel Aty referred to the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to activate cooperation with sister African countries. Noting the visit of the President of the Republic to Eritrea, and the holding of a three-party summit with Eritrea and Somalia. The Minister of Foreign Affairs also appreciated the active and effective moves of the political leadership to support Egyptian interests in the African continent and activate cooperation with sister African countries, stressing at the same time that Egypt supports various development projects in the countries of the continent, including the Nile Basin countries.
Dr. Badr Abdel Aty also discussed the role of the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development in supporting technical cooperation with African countries, and the accumulated experience it has in this regard, noting also the activity of Egyptian companies in Africa. And the good reputation it enjoys, in addition to the opportunities available to Egypt for investment and partnership with African countries in the field of agriculture, and it also confirmed Egypt’s interest in activating the role of the African Space Agency, which hosts its headquarters.
In turn, the Minister of Irrigation referred to efforts to enhance cooperation with the Nile Basin countries, in coordination with the relevant ministries, noting the existence of opportunities for cooperation with sister African countries such as Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
During At the meeting, the Minister of Industry and Transport indicated that there is cooperation with a number of countries on the African continent, especially Tanzania and Rwanda. To implement a number of logistical areas and cooperation in the field of transportation, noting, at the same time, cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various concerned authorities. In order to implement projects that are a priority for sister African countries in the field of transportation.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of Egyptian companies playing a role in implementing the projects planned for African countries in light of their enjoyment. These companies have proven expertise in this field.
The Minister of Agriculture also discussed, during the meeting, the volume of agricultural investment in African countries, and the ministry’s efforts to support those investments.
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During the meeting, the Minister of Planning presented a number of ideas for supporting cooperation with African countries, proposing to consider sending delegations to African countries to study projects that are a priority for them and work to implement them.
For his part, the Minister of Aviation referred to examining the expansion of airlines to a number of African countries, as well as organizing training courses for African cadres in the field of civil aviation.
In this context, the Prime Minister directed the preparation of a list of development projects that are a priority for our African brothers, so that they can be followed up and worked on implementing.
During the meeting, Dr. Najla Al-Nazhi highlighted the cooperation relations between the Central Bank and African countries, especially in the field of training.
Minister Plenipotentiary Fadel Yaqoub also discussed the efforts Supporting trade exchange with the countries of the African continent, noting cooperation with Somalia in this regard, as well as Egypt’s readiness to transfer its expertise to African countries with regard to cooperation within the framework of the World Trade Organization.
