Egyptian Minister of International Co-operation Rania el-Mashaat met with Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development for Cameroon Alamine Ousmane Mey, who is in Egypt for the third meeting of the Governance Council of the Arab Africa Trade Bridges Programme (ATTBP).
This meeting comes within the framework of strengthening economic relations with African countries in light of the country’s 2030 development vision.
Both ministers addressed ways to enhance bilateral co-operation across different sectors.
El-Mashaat said her ministry is promoting joint development between Egypt and the African continent by pushing for regional integration and by enhancing expertise and knowledge-sharing by spotlighting Egypt’s own development experiences with other African countries. This is in light of the political leadership’s commitment to strengthening relations and supporting areas of development across the continent.
El-Mashaat also discussed the first edition of the Egypt-International Co-operation Forum (Egypt-ICF), held under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, to look into strengthening multilateral co-operation post-pandemic.
El-Mashaat also reviewed several agreements that were concluded to promote development in Africa. This includes the navigation line project between Lake Victoria and the Mediterranean Sea, the railway line between Egypt and Sudan, and Cairo-Cape Town road project.
Hosting COP27 this year in Sharm el-Sheikh will enhances Egypt’s position internationally and regionally in leading green transformation efforts, especially after the launch of the National Climate Change Strategy 2050, which opens the door to more opportunities in cooperation and in coordinating with development partners and International Financial Institutions (IFIs), el-Mashaat said.
The Egyptian government is making progress in the combat against climate change by shifting towards a green and sustainable economy and by conserving environmental and natural resources, el-Mashaat said.
There are various opportunities for co-operation, especially within the African continent, and via partnerships with international banks, multilateral institutions, government entities, and the private sector in Egypt to promote climate finance and to advance the country’s efforts in achieving sustainable development through adaptation and mitigation projects, coupled with innovative and blended finance mechanisms to promote a green economy, she said, emphasising the role of international co-operation in light of the challenges facing the world such as the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and the coronavirus pandemic.
At the beginning of the pandemic, the international community used financial and monetary tools to overcome its repercussions and now it is necessary to unify efforts with regard to increased energy prices and raw materials, such as food, she added.
For his part, Mey stressed the importance of enhancing the prospects for trade exchange between both countries and in integration between the Arab and African regions, which has become urgent in light of the health crisis and geopolitical challenges.
Mey also expressed his interest in starting an Egyptian-Cameroonian business forum to discuss prospects for economic and technological co-operation, to increase the exchange of information and expertise, and to ensure capacity building, while also paving the way for joint manufacturing.
El-Mashaat gave Mey a copy of her ministry’s 2021 annual report Engaging For Impact Towards Our Common Future which includes sections on strengthening co-operation with Africa, as well as a chapter on environmental sustainability and the Government of Egypt’s plans for climate action. The minister also provided Mey a copy of one of the main publications released for the Egypt-ICF on Egypt’s national plans for the transition to a green economy.
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