French envoy highlights importance of Sudan neighbours summit

French Ambassador in Cairo Marc Baréty expressed his country’s appreciation for Egypt’s efforts to help French nationals leave Sudan amidst the recent crisis in the country. He also underscored the importance of Sudan’s neighbours summit, which will be held in Egypt tomorrow, upon a call from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi find a solution to the crisis in Sudan.
In a press conference on Tuesday, the French ambassador praised the development of Egypt’s infrastructure and road projects during the last few years.
He said that his country, through the French Development Agency (FDA), supports the infrastructure projects in Egypt, especially in the transport sector, as it financed a number of metro lines and modernised the Alexandria tram and the Abu Qir train.
The ambassador explained that 90 percent of the projects funded by the French side in the transport sector is environment friendly.
In this regard, the French ambassador said that the participation of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in a round table entitled “Partnership for Green Development”, held within the framework of the “New Global Finance Pact” summit, was an opportunity to shed light on Egypt’s Country Platform for the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy (NWFE) programme, which was launched during the Climate Summit (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh.
‏He added that France was the first to participate in this programme, as it allocated 100 million euros for it, stressing the depth of the strategic relations between France and Egypt, and the importance of their role in achieving stability in the region.
‏He also praised President Sisi’s recent visit to France, during which he participated in the Paris Summit, and met with the French President, pointing out that the mutual high-level visits between the two sides are evidence of the strength of relations binding both two countries.
‏The French ambassador reviewed the bilateral relations between Egypt and France, describing them as “historic and solid.” He stressed that Egypt is “a very important country” in the Arab and African regions, and in the Mediterranean region, bearing in mind its regional and international influence.
‏With regard to economic relations, the French ambassador said There is a great boom in trade exchange between both countries. In 2022, French exports to Egypt hit two billion euros, and Egyptian exports to France the same value, due to the rise in Egyptian gas exports to France.
‏In the field of food security, he explained that France’s wheat exports to Egypt have increased. He added that France requested Egypt’s support in the field of gas, noting that there are 200 French companies operating in the Egyptian market. This number is expected to increase as more firms will operate in the field of energy and green hydrogen.
‏With regard to cultural cooperation, the French ambassador said there are mutual cooperation programmes through the French Cultural Institute, which carries out several cultural and educational activities.