Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has expressed Egypt’s willingness to provide all possible facilities to promote and optimise Danish investments in such vital sectors as renewable and clean energy and maritime shipping, including through the establishment of a regional hub for the production of green fuel for ships.
The president’s remarks came during his meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Cairo on Monday, Presidency Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said.
During the meeting, the president highlighted Egypt’s aspiration to boost co-operation with Denmark, especially with regard to maximising Danish investments in Egypt in a number of vital sectors such as maritime transport and shipping, renewable and clean energy, Spokesman Fahmy said.
Views were also exchanged during the meeting on the latest developments of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue, the presidency spokesman said, adding that conformity of views was reached on the importance of achieving a legal, binding agreement on this issue in a way that preserves the rights and interests of all parties.
The two sides also expressed the aspiration that the Danish prime minister’s first official visit of to Egypt would contribute to strengthening the friendship relations between the two countries in various fields, especially with 65 years since the start of diplomatic representation between the two countries.
The two sides also discussed developments in international and regional files of common interest, especially the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and the unprecedented economic challenges it poses to food and energy security at the international level, the spokesman said.
Speaking to a joint press conference with the Danish prime minister following their talks yesterday, President Sisi said that there is a great opportunity for co-operation between the two countries in the field of transport and maritime shipping, given Egypt’s geographical location, advanced infrastructure, the economic zone in the Suez Canal and the country’s established expertise.
President Sisi reaffirmed the importance of reaching a legal and binding agreement with the Ethiopians on filling and operating the Renaissance Dam.
He added that the Egyptian state is making a very great effort to benefit from every water drop in the country, whether through treatment and recycling, or from the desalination of sea water in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
“We have exerted 10 years of effort and care on our part to find an appropriate solution through negotiation, and we understand development in Ethiopia; and we say that on every occasion, and we are ready to co-operate with them so that it does not affect the Egyptian citizens in any way,” the president said.
He stressed that what is required now is access to a binding legal agreement on the filling and operation of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The president also said that the Danish prime minister showed understanding in this issue.
President Sisi also said that he presented during the meeting with the visiting Danish PM Egypt’s vision in the field of human rights. “We speak frankly on every occasion that brings us together with our European friends… and that Egypt’s vision on this matter depends on developing the lives of people in various fields in accordance with the standards set by international organisations,” the president said.
For her part, the Danish prime minister expressed appreciation for Egypt’s role in international climate action and it was agreed to continue joint coordination to follow up on the results of the COP27 World Climate Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.
The Danish PM also praised Egypt’s efforts to confront the phenomenon of illegal immigration, and the burdens associated with these efforts, stressing that Egypt is a vital partner for the European continent in this important file.
