PM meets with OECD secretary in Spain, reaffirms strong bilateral ties

SEVILLE – Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli reaffirmed Egypt’s profound appreciation for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and cooperation through the Country Programme and the MENA-OECD Initiative on Governance and Competitiveness for Development.

The initiative was launched in 2005 to foster co-operation between MENA countries and the OECD, aimed at promoting sustainable and inclusive growth policies.

Madbouli’s remarks were made during his meeting on Tuesday with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann on the sidelines of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania el-Mashat, and Egypt’s Ambassador to Spain Ihab Badawi.

Madbouli commended the fruitful cooperation between Egypt and the OECD and its tangible positive impact on the national economy.

He highlighted the ongoing efforts to finalize discussions on the OECD Country Program with Egypt, describing it as a cornerstone of bilateral collaboration.

He also reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to maintaining close coordination with the OECD to explore avenues for further deepening and enhancing bilateral cooperation.

For her part, Mashat highlighted the ongoing consultations with the OECD to finalize the Country Program, describing it as a pivotal tool for integrating international expertise into Egypt’s national development framework, particularly Egypt Vision 2030 and the National Structural Reform Program.

She also noted that several events are scheduled to take place in collaboration with the OECD in the coming period.

Mashat further stressed that cooperation with the OECD encompasses a broad array of critical economic issues, aligning with the government’s commitment to advancing a comprehensive agenda for economic reform.

The OECD Secretary-General stressed the importance of sustaining and enhancing cooperation with Egypt, highlighting the country’s strategic significance in the Middle East and the critical role a stable and thriving Egyptian economy plays in promoting regional development.

He also expressed his appreciation for the tangible progress achieved by the joint working groups from both sides.

Concluding the meeting, Madbouli welcomed the OECD Secretary-General and proposed launching consultations to develop a comprehensive roadmap aimed at further institutionalizing bilateral cooperation and supporting Egypt’s national development goals.