Egypt and Singapore stressed the importance of exchanging expertise in social protection and humanitarian work.
Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy and Singaporean Minister of State for Foreign and Home Affairs Zaqy Mohamad met on Tuesday to share successful experiences in social protection, crisis and disaster response, and relief and humanitarian assistance.
The two sides also explored ways to enhance co-operation between humanitarian institutions in both countries, exchange expertise and build capacity to improve the efficiency of humanitarian response systems and to better serve communities and people in need.
Morsy stressed the importance of broadening co-operation and coordination with Singapore and benefiting from the two countries’ experiences to develop social protection and welfare systems.
She also highlighted the key role played by the Egyptian Red Crescent in providing humanitarian and relief assistance and responding to various crises and emergencies.
Morsy reviewed the ministry’s social protection programmes, including Takaful and Karama, Egypt’s largest conditional cash transfer programme and the largest of its kind in North Africa and the Middle East. The programme currently benefits 4.7 million families.
The minister also outlined Egypt’s efforts to support the Palestinian cause, stressing that relieving the humanitarian situation in Gaza has remained a top priority for Egypt’s political and diplomatic efforts.
She highlighted the Egyptian Red Crescent’s role, along with its volunteers, in supporting Palestinians and responding to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza Strip since it began in October 2023.
Zaqy Mohamed praised Egypt’s experience in social protection, particularly the Takaful and Karama programme, and commended the Egyptian Red Crescent’s humanitarian and relief efforts.
He stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue and exchanging expertise between the two countries to open new avenues for cooperation.
