Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said Egypt looked forward to maintaining the fruitful co-operation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in support of Egypt’s goals and development priorities, through a new strategy for co-operation with the bank for the next five years, in the light of the comprehensive and sustainable development process being implemented in Egypt at the economic and social levels.
The president’s remarks came during his meeting with President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Odile Renaud-Basso in the presence of Minister of International Co-operation Rania al-Mashat, Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Bassam Radi said.
During the meeting, the president congratulated Mrs Renaud-Basso on her election as the first woman to hold the position of bank president. He also expressed Egypt’s appreciation for the distinguished relations with the bank, especially in the light of the important role it played during the past years as a partner in the success of the development process in Egypt.
For her part, the president of EBRD said she was keen that Egypt be the first country to visit within her foreign tour in the region.
She also voiced the bank’s pride in the strong and fruitful relations with Egypt and its various financial institutions. She also praised Egypt’s success in carrying out its ambitious economic reform programme.
She said that programme contributed to the recovery of the Egyptian economy, the high growth rates and the maximisation of foreign direct investment. She noted that Egypt was considered a model for the rest of the African countries to follow.
Mrs Renaud-Basso also stressed keenness to expand the bank’s activities in Egypt and work to implement more development projects as part of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development “Egypt Vision 2030”.
The meeting also included a review of ways to enhance co-operation with the bank and work to increase its contribution to financing projects that are implemented in Egypt.
Prospects for developing future co-operation with the bank in a number of priority sectors were also discussed, foremost of which is new and renewable energy, climate change, digital transformation, education and training, small and medium-sized enterprises, the rural development project, housing programmes and social safety nets.
The meeting also discussed strengthening co-operation between Egypt and the bank in the African continent, as part of efforts to strengthen economic, political and development co-operation at the continental level, especially by supporting regional integration initiatives between African countries in the areas of achieving sustainable development.
