H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, had a virtual meeting with the Japanese Ambassador to Egypt Oka Hiroshi to discuss enhancing economic relations between the two countries in light of shared priorities and interests. This meeting marked the first interaction between the minister and the Japanese ambassador after the merger of the ministries of planning and economic development with international cooperation. Discussions also focused on fortifying international partnerships in industrial localization and human development, especially as both countries celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations.
During the meeting, Al-Mashat highlighted the strong bilateral relations between Egypt and Japan and the successful partnerships in various strategic areas. These partnerships involve investments in human capital, infrastructure projects, and support for renewable energy initiatives, all contributing to inclusive and sustainable growth.
The Japanese Ambassador in Cairo commended the minister for her role in the merged ministries and reiterated Japan’s commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation with Egypt in the future.
High-Level Policy Dialogue
The discussion also revolved around organizing a high-level policy dialogue between Egypt and Japan towards the end of August. This dialogue is seen as a pivotal platform for enhancing cooperation between the two countries, with a focus on developmental issues, future collaboration proposals, and technical assistance in alignment with Egypt’s development vision and priorities of various ministries.
Al-Mashat emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships with Japan in areas such as industrial development, industrial localization, and human development. She underscored the significant impact of these sectors on achieving sustainable economic development and stressed the need to leverage Japanese expertise in these areas.
70 Years of Bilateral Relations
Moreover, discussions included H.E. Al-Mashat’s upcoming visit to Japan to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Egyptian-Japanese relations. This visit is expected to involve meetings and discussions with Japanese counterparts and development institutions.
The minister noted the advancements in the Egyptian-Japanese partnership under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s leadership, leading to the elevation of bilateral relations to a strategic level. Progress has been made in various sectors like development projects, political ties, economic and trade relations, investments, healthcare, culture, education, and science and technology, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
Furthermore, topics like the Development Policy Loan (DPL) program, culture grants, and agricultural grants were discussed during the meeting. Al-Mashat emphasized the importance of coordinating with development partners to support Egypt’s development plans and enhance economic and social development efforts.
Private Sector Partnership
Al-Mashat also highlighted partnerships with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other financial institutions to promote private sector investments in priority sectors. Japanese institutions are playing a significant role in financing the private sector, particularly in the energy sector through programs like “NWFE.” The upcoming period will witness additional financing mechanisms and technical support for Egyptian private sector companies from Japanese institutions.
Japan is a vital development partner for Egypt, with a portfolio of over 18 projects supporting sustainable development goals worth approximately $3.9 billion. These projects encompass various sectors like health, education, energy, transportation, tourism, and irrigation, aiming to support economic growth, social inclusion, educational development, human resource development, regional cooperation, and climate change mitigation.
Finally, the meeting highlighted the annual policy dialogue conducted between Egypt and Japan at the Ministry of International Cooperation last year, focusing on future cooperation proposals and technical collaboration aligned with development priorities and Egypt’s 2030 Vision.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning and Economic Development – Egypt.