Egyptian Ambassador in Berlin Khaled Galal has underscored the importance of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s visit to Germany, saying it would pave the way for further cooperation between the two friendly countries.
It would be a good chance for President Sisi to exchange views with German officials regarding regional and international issues of mutual concern, Galal said in an interview with MENA editor in chief Ali Hassan Sunday.
This is Sisi’s first visit to Germany since the new government was sworn in here in December 2021, the diplomat said, noting that this government is unprecedented in the sense that it is formed of three different parties.
Berlin is a close partner of Cairo and this partnership covers almost all fields of cooperation, Galal said, putting the annual value of trade exchange between the two sides at about six billion euros.
About 3,000 German companies are operating in Egypt or have offices in the Arab country, the diplomat added. Galal made it clear that Egypt has the lion’s share, 40 percent, of Germany’s overseas scientific cooperation budget.
The diplomat talked about a Siemens venture to build lines of the high-speed train at a total cost of eight billion euros, noting that Berlin considers it a strategic project abroad.
He also cited three power generation plants that had been established by Germany’s Siemens and helped achieve a quantum leap in electricity production in Egypt. A surplus in electricity production is sure used to serve development goals in Egypt, the diplomat noted.
German projects implemented in Egypt “positively and effectively” contribute to economic and social development in Egypt, Galal acknowledged.
All this has made of Germany both a development and trade partner of Egypt, he said.
Politically speaking, the diplomat pointed to Egyptian-German efforts to push forward the Middle East peace process, build a Libyan state and fight terrorism and illegal immigration.
Berlin, he added, is keen on supporting Egypt as a regional hub for energy in the Middle East, especially in light of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. This has opened the door to cooperation with Egypt, which should supply Germany with natural gas to help meet the urgent demands of the European country, Galal explained. He also touched upon cooperation between the two countries in the production of green hydrogen.
Talking about Sisi’s visit to Germany, the ambassador said it is important because the Egyptian leader will co-chair the Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD) together with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, ahead of the next climate summit, which is scheduled to take place in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm el Sheikh in November.
The PCD will be a good chance for Sisi to review Egypt’s vision about climate change and to underline African concerns in this regard, he noted.
The coronavirus pandemic has put into question the possibility for industrial countries to continue depending on remote geographical areas, when they could benefit from closer areas, such as the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), as an alternative for the manufacture of production equipment, Galal told MENA editor in chief.
Germany could very well relocate its factories from far places in East Asia to closer areas around the Suez Canal, he noted.
The value of German investments in Egypt is estimated to reach some 2.9 billion euros allocated for industrial, agricultural, service and construction cooperation between the two countries, Galal said.
He made it clear that Germans very much appreciate Egypt’s commitment to fighting illegal immigration and that Egypt is a good host of Arab and African refugees.
Galal also said that Cairo and Berlin are currently in talks to implement a number of mega project in Egypt with the aim to help the Arab country adapt with climate change.
*In transport, Egypt and Germany agreed on the second phase of the high-speed train connection, a huge project to be implemented in partnership with Siemens.
*Germany is involved in medical and technological market and would like to increase investments with Egypt in these fields.
*The number of German tourists to Egypt averaged 1.8 million annually before the pandemic. The figure then fell, but is now bouncing back to around 85 per cent of the pre-pandemic total.
Egypt attaches particular importance to its close relations with Germany as a basis for strengthening cooperation and mutual interests between the two countries.
*President Sisi’s visit to Berlin coincides with celebrating the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Egypt and Germany.
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