Int’l coop. min., US amb. sign 8 grant development deals worth $130 mn

Egypt’s Minister of International Co-operation Rania al Mahsat and US Ambassador to Egypt Herro Mustafa Garg signed eight non-refundable development grants totaling 130 million dollars, provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The grant agreements aim to support Egypt’s development goals across various sectors, within the framework of Egypt-US economic relations programme.

The grants designate 13.5 million dollars for comprehensive economic governance, 35 million dollars for higher education initiatives along with 12 million dollars for primary education stages.

Under the deal, 15 million dollars will be allocated to improving health outcomes, 14.5 million dollars for rural development, 26.9 million dollars to enhance trade and investment, 5.5 million dollars for climate resilience efforts alongside 7.5 million for water support programs.

This collaboration is part of a broader ongoing development cooperation portfolio with USAID, which has totaled about one billion dollars since 2014.

Mashat highlighted the partnership between Egypt and the US, which aims to meet the country’s development requirements by directing development financing and technical support to various sectors, according to a statement issued by the US embassy in Cairo.

This partnership also reinforces Egypt’s priorities in the development of education, higher education, implementing the STEM schools system, increasing investment in human capital and empowering women, and improving the capacity of small farmers to increase income.

The minister added that this partnership contributed to achieving economic and social development, stimulating private sector participation in development, and increasing its role in various projects, by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, entrepreneurship, enhancing business, and increasing efforts in climate action in Egypt.

“I am honoured to reaffirm the U.S. Government’s longstanding commitment to creating economic opportunity and improving conditions for all Egyptians,” US Ambassador Herro Mustafa Garg said.

“With $130 million in funding from the American people, we are advancing Egyptian efforts to achieve a brighter, healthier, and more prosperous future for generations of Egyptians to come.”