H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat reviews development cooperation efforts with its multilateral and bilateral partners in support of the state’s development plans, in line with the transition towards a green economy, alongside presenting the strategic relations between Egypt and France.
Egyptian-French relations are reflected across all areas of development, and includes enhancing and encouraging partnerships between the private sector of both countries. In 2021, the development financing signed with France amounted to €1.7 billion. The Minister of International Cooperation H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat reviewed the development cooperation efforts with multilateral and bilateral development partners, in support of the country’s development plans across fields, and in line with the transition towards a green economy. Al-Mashat also addressed the country-led multi-stakeholder engagement framework and development financing secured in 2021; explained in more detail in the Ministry’s 2021 Annual Report “Engaging For Impact Towards Our Common Future”, while also spotlighting the Egyptian-French strategic relations and agreements signed in the past year. This discussion took place during a meeting organized by the French Chamber of Commerce, alongside the presence of the French Ambassador in Cairo Mr. Marc Baréty and members from the chamber, in celebration of its 30th anniversary since its establishment; strengthening Egyptian-French relations. Al-Mashat explained the country-led multi-stakeholder engagement framework consists of 3 principles including, hosting multi-stakeholder platforms to coordinate and consolidate relations with multilateral and bilateral development partners. This played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic where multi-stakeholder platforms supported strengthening partnerships between Egypt and its partners in 2020 and 2021, as various sectors were addressed such as, transportation, energy, small and medium enterprises, health, private sector, digitalization, and investment in human capital. The results of these multi-stakeholder platforms have been reflected in development cooperation agreements with development partners and relevant national entities.
The Minister stated that the objectives of the country-led multi-stakeholder engagement framework is to maximize socioeconomic returns from Official Development Assistance (ODA), to ensure alignment of development interventions with national objectives as well as with the SDGs, and to enhance the management of development cooperation for better implementation of development projects within Egypt.
Regarding the second principle of the country-led multi-stakeholder engagement framework, Al-Mashat shared the Ministry’s efforts in mapping the ODA to the SDGs, explaining how each project contributes to the implementation of the global goals and national objectives by 2030. She also added that an interactive map was published on the Ministry’s website that includes the current ongoing development portfolio of development financing, distributed across sectors, SDGs, and governorates. The results of the ODA-SDG Mapping in 2021, showed that the ongoing portfolio includes 372 projects amounting to $26.5 billion, supporting Egypt’s efforts in accelerating development. The highest SDG in receiving ODA financing was SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure amounting to $5.9 billion, making up for 22.3% of the portfolio, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation amounting to $5.3 billion, making up for 20.3% of the portfolio, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy amounting to $4.6 billion, making up for 17.5% of the portfolio. Al-Mashat also explained that the third principle of the country-led multi-stakeholder engagement framework is to promote Egypt’s development stories in international forums, and by preparing promotional content of projects done in cooperation with developing partners. The Ministry of International Cooperation’s 2021 Annual Report “Engaging For Impact Towards our Common Future” detailed that the total development financing in 2021 amounted to $10.2 billion, including $8.7 billion directed to public sector development and $1.57 billion directed to private sector development, all dedicated to supporting Egypt’s development vision and the UN SDGs. Al-Mashat also noted that the cooperation efforts with development partners during 2020 and 2021 amounted to $20 billion in development financing.
Strategic Economic Cooperation: Egypt & France
The Minister also addressed the long history of relations between Egypt and France, reflected across many areas of development cooperation. The total economic cooperation portfolio since 1974 amounts to €7.