● Secretary of State for International Cooperation of Spain highlighted the importance of holding the World Urban Forum in Egypt next November
H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, continued her meetings during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) and The Summit of the Future in New York, where she met with Ms. Eva Granados Galeano, Secretary of State for International Cooperation in Spain, in the presence of Mr. Sergio Colina, General Director of Sustainable Development Policies.
The meeting covered bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries and arrangements for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), which will be held from June 30 to July 3, 2025 in Spain, in coordination with The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, as well as strengthening data monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
The two sides also discussed various files of joint cooperation, notably the importance of promoting integrated solutions that enhance the efficiency of public debt management in developing and less developed countries. The role of international financial institutions and multilateral development, in this regard H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat pointed out the Ministry's efforts to promote structural reforms through Development Policy Financing (DPF), which is being implemented in cooperation with the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the European Union (EU).
The meeting also addressed the importance of advancing the agenda of localizing the sustainable development goals based on the accumulated experience between Egypt and international financial institutions. In cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Egypt launched Sustainable Development Goals Localization Reports, in addition to discussing supporting the growth and development of the Egyptian private sector as part of its efforts to promote inclusive economic opportunities and create decent jobs opportunities, as well as strengthening entrepreneurial capabilities and developing business management skills that are an essential part of its strategy.
The global UN initiative Local2030 was mentioned, which aims to support the implementation of sustainable development goals at the local level, through innovative solutions and in cooperation with governments, international and regional institutions, the private sector, civil society, and non-profit organizations.
The discussion touched on the pillars of enhancing bilateral cooperation, including benefiting from the Egyptian government’s expertise in sustainable development, implementing gender-responsive budget, joint coordination mechanisms and the role of relevant parties, from bilateral and multilateral development partners, and address cooperation through debt swap programs, similar to the pioneering Egyptian experience in this regard with Germany, Italy and China.
Regarding cooperation with The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat pointed out that 20 programs and projects have been implemented in Egypt with the support of the Spanish Agency in many sectors and fields such as women’s empowerment, water resources management, and support for the Egyptian private sector, in addition to developing the skills and capabilities of women in Upper Egypt, affirmed the importance of periodic follow-up of these projects. Future cooperation opportunities were also addressed to contribute to support sustainable development and various fields of development and economic cooperation.
The Spanish Minister expressed her appreciation for the strategic partnership with the Arab Republic of Egypt in various areas of cooperation, and stressed the importance of holding the World Urban Forum, which Egypt will host in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), next November, as the forum is the first platform in the world that deals with urban issues for urbanization and achieving sustainable development goals. It is worth noting that Spain is one of the development partners contributing to financing the national platform of the "NWFE " programme, in the energy pillar.
This is H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat’s first participation in the activities of the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly after the merger of the Ministries of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation. The Ministry promotes sustainable economic growth through a general framework with three main pillars:driving quality growth through data-driven and evidence-based policy, building a future-resilient economy through macroeconomic stability and structural reforms, and optimizing resource allocation.