Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Abdel Aziz Konsowa, has highlighted the strong historical ties between Egypt and Romania, reaffirming Cairo’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with European countries, particularly in higher education, scientific research and innovation.
This came during his meeting on Saturday with a high-level Romanian delegation led by Dacian Ciolos, adviser to Romania’s president and the country’s candidate for Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), to probe co-operation expansion in higher education, research and innovation.
The minister stressed Egypt’s interest in enhancing co-operation with the OIF, citing its role in supporting development, human capacity building and cultural dialogue, especially in Africa.
He also underscored the importance of higher education and scientific research as tools of scientific diplomacy that promote knowledge, peace and sustainable development.
Minister Konsowa outlined Egypt’s efforts to expand academic co-operation across Africa through the establishment of branches of Egyptian universities on the continent. Egypt currently operates university branches in Chad and South Sudan and is considering additional campuses in other African countries.
He also highlighted Egypt’s support for French-language educational institutions, pointing to the recent inauguration of the new headquarters of Senghor University in Borg El Arab by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
For his part, Ciolos described Egypt as a key player in Africa and an important partner in advancing the goals of the Francophonie.
He called for broader co-operation in strategic sectors including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, healthcare, agriculture, and advanced technology. He also emphasized the importance of youth empowerment, academic exchange and knowledge transfer in supporting sustainable development.
