By Mohamed Attia
Minister of Civil Aviation Samah el-Hefney received UK Ambassador in Egypt Mark Bryson-Richardson and his accompanying delegation at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, to discuss avenues of boosting the strategic partnership between both countries in the civil aviation sector.
At the onset of the meeting, Minister el-Hefney welcomed the ambassador and congratulated him on his new post in Cairo, emphasising the deep-rooted relations between the two countries, especially in the sector of civil aviation, which is considered one of the main pillars of co-operation.
The meeting came within the framework of developing bilateral co-operation. Both sides tackled a number of vital files, including Britain’s support for the fleet expansion strategies of EgyptAir and Air Cairo, strengthening co-operation in airport management and operations, as well as reviewing ongoing partnership programmes in aviation security and safety.
These efforts aim to improve operational efficiency within Egyptian airports according to international standards.
El-Hefny stated that the ministry is working on developing airport infrastructure, implementing projects to increase capacity, improving travel services, as well as expanding training programmes to enhance human resources efficiency.
The minister also invited UK major corporations to take part in the upcoming edition of the El Alamein International Exhibition.
For his part, Ambassador Richardson emphasised his country’s commitment to expanding co-operation with Egypt in the aviation sector. He also praised the efforts of the Civil Aviation Ministry in boosting safety and security procedures within Egyptian airports, which supported tourism and increased flights to the UK.
He noted that co-operation in aviation security and training represents a successful model to build upon, particularly as they are planning a training programme aimed at empowering women in aviation security.
The ambassador also expressed the interest of leading British companies in investing in civil aviation infrastructure projects, highlighting that British investments in Egypt are steadily growing and that the sector currently offers promising opportunities for long-term expansion and partnership.
