Further co-operation with the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) topped the agenda of high-level talks Tuesday.
Minister of International Co-operation Rania el-Mashaat met Matsunaga Hideki, Director General of Middle East and Europe Department of Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), during his first visit to Egypt.
Japan has offered Egypt a $ 9.3 million grant for personal protection equipment (PPE) and medications in the fight against the coronavirus, the minister said.
El-Mashat reviewed her ministry’s strategy to strengthen international partnerships through economic diplomacy to accelerate efforts towards the Sustainable Development Strategy, Egypt Vision 2030.
Joint projects implemented with the JICA are within the framework of agreements with the ministry and international partners, el-Mashaat noted.
Despite the challenges to development cooperation during the past year, and thanks to partnership with the JICA, many projects which include the fourth line of the Greater Cairo Metro and the opening of Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), plus the new Dairout barrage in co-operation with the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources.
El-Mashaat briefed Hideki on the annual report International partnerships for achieving sustainable development—Shaping the future in a changing world issued by her ministry for 2020.
The talks also tackled future areas of cooperation in comprehensive health insurance, antiquities and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The minister also spoke of the positive indicators for the Egyptian economy during the past year and the high growth rates achieved despite the economic and social impacts of Covid-19.
Mashaat also touched upon the importance of involving the private sector in development efforts, for job creation and sustainable growth.
For his part, Hideki praised the role of the Ministry of International Co-operation in pushing forward partnership projects with JICA.
He also hailed the ministry’s role in concluding the budget financing protocol worth $240 million that was signed this year to strengthen Egyptian-Japanese relations.
The Japanese grant portfolio to Egypt rose to $2.7 billion, which includes $287 million in human resources, $1.12 billion for electricity, $552 million for transport, $450 million for tourism and antiquities, $240 million for financing development policies, and $57 million for irrigation.
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