During the panel titled Climate Action in a Post COVID-19 Context: A Twofold Challenge, climate action in Africa and the Middle East was discussed, as an urgent step for pushing forward economic and sustainable growth. The Ministry of International Cooperation was also keen on sharing Egypt’s experience in mapping the ODA to the UN SSGs, within the global framework of the UN and the OECD, to serve as a novel approach for Africa.

Additionally, a workshop on the AfCFTA: Prospects & Challenges of Digital Trade for the Private Sector, to shed light on the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in addressing digital trade constraints and the impact of quality infrastructure on private sector participation in digital trade, the second workshop tackled regulatory solutions, especially for issues such as data and intellectual property protection, and cross-border trade. Furthermore, a panel was held on Food Security & Employment in the Digital Age in Africa, opening the dialogue on the importance of the agricultural sector and how the introduction of modern technologies can accelerate its ability to meet the needs of food security and rural development. In another panel session titled “The Demographic Divide: Youth & Innovation for Transforming Africa”, the role of creativity and technology in pushing forward economic growth in Africa was discussed, as well as the opportunities across the continent to harness the potential of the fast-paced technological advancements through the promotion of youth-led innovative solutions. It is worth noting that Africa is one of the “youngest” continents on the planet, as 60% of its population is under the age of 25, and so this makes youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation a much-needed element of its development framework. The Egypt — ICF tapped on triangular cooperation and South-South cooperation, as this panel’s participants emphasized that triangular cooperation plays a pivotal role in turning challenges into opportunities for benefiting the continent, and to pave the way for the development of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, through diversifying international partnerships. From Egypt to Russia to Africa: A Cooperation Link Last year, H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat took part in the 24th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and among the various panels and bilateral meetings, the minister took part in the “Russia-Africa” session detailing the link that Egypt can serve in strengthening Russian-African economic cooperation, particularly by forging synergies with the private sector. The discussion revolved around the impact of rapid global changes during the pandemic; Russia’s business strategy in Africa in the coming period particularly in the health, food security, infrastructure and education sectors; and potential collaborations and projects. Russia and Egypt’s strategic partnerships is reflected in many projects being implemented such as the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project that costs $25 billion, and the Russian Industrial Zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone that is expected to bring in investment amounting to $7 billion. This is alongside the many private sector companies implementing development interventions across the continent such as dams, and electricity and infrastructure projects. This panel included several policymakers from Russia and Africa, including Firmin Ngrébada, the Prime Minister of the Central African Republic at the time, who said that in 2020, they have witnessed development in relations between the Central African Republic and Russia. He stressed the need to strengthen cooperation on all levels, especially economically, and to build partnerships that can provide opportunities for the Russian private sector to implement projects with opportunities for foreign direct investment. In that same vein, the annual report presented the Egyptian- Russian-African cooperation, and Egypt’s openness to economic and investment opportunities across the continent, as Egypt has participated in a number of infrastructure development projects across several sectors, including transport, railways, water and irrigation, health, etc. Global Consensus on Investing in Africa H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat took part in the high-level roundtable discussions, the “Africa in the Age of New Trade Wars” as part of the Africa CEO Forum, and the London School of Economics “China-Africa Trade and Investment” hosted by the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa. Both panels reflected that through international cooperation, and public-private partnerships, a strong foundation for the development of Africa is in the works. During the LSE discussion, the participants tackled China’s role in enhancing Africa’s future, as the African continent, together with China, have profound potential to explore and develop fields of trade and industry, and contribute in implementing Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects, towards advancing the green economy. Joint Higher Committee wi