CAIRO/MADRID – Egypt’s ambassador to Madrid Youssef Mekkawy said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s visit to Egypt carried messages of support and appreciation for the Egyptian position towards the Israeli war against the Gaza Strip, and for President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s efforts in the political mediation between the two sides to curb the disastrous repercussions of the war via facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
In statements to MENA on Friday, the Egyptian diplomat underlined that the Spanish premier’s visit came to express appreciation of Egypt’s efforts in helping the evacuation of dual Spanish nationals and other foreigners from the Gaza Strip through Rafah crossing and their return to their countries via the Egyptian territory.
The visit also delivered a message of awareness of Egypt’s strategic role in the region, particularly with regard to the Palestinian issue, he added.
This visit comes at a very critical time in light of the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strips and the positive stance taken by Spain towards the ongoing conflict, he said, citing Spain’s call for an immediate ceasefire, protection of the Palestinian civilian, and permanent and proportionate access of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Spain called for an urgent international peace conference after the war stops to reach a political settlement based on the two-state solution, which is consistent with the Egyptian stand on this score, he further noted.
The Egyptian diplomat also asserted the Spanish prime minister’s keenness to respond to President Sisi’s invitation to participate in the Cairo Peace Summit, held on October 21, as part of Egypt’s efforts to contain the grave repercussions of the Gaza war.
This visit is the second by the Spanish premier to Cairo in less than two months since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip, he added, saying this reflects the close viewpoints between the leaderships of the two countries regarding the current war in Gaza.
He also shed light on Spain’s stands within the European Union in support of strengthening and developing cooperation between the various EU mechanisms and the Arab world in the development, environment, immigration and security spheres.
He further underlined the positive development witnessed in the trade exchange between Cairo and Madrid in 2022, saying the volume of trade exchange reached nearly 4.5 billion euros, with a growth rate of about 100% compared to 2021.
The most important Egyptian exports to Spain are liquefied gas, iron, agricultural commodities, and oil derivatives, he noted.
The investment sector receives great attention from both countries in light of the presence of many Spanish investments in Egypt in the areas of renewable energy, transportation, water treatment, fish farming, petrochemicals, health and medicine, with the volume of Spanish investments amounting to 825 million euros, the Egyptian diplomat added.
As for investment and development cooperation between the two countries, amb. Makkawy said that it is one of the most important aspects of economic ties between the two countries, as the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) finances and implements a number of important development projects in Egypt in the water, energy, women’s empowerment, and local community development domains, in cooperation with the relevant Egyptian authorities.
