Minister of International Cooperation Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat met with Swiss Ambassador to Egypt H.E. Dr. Yvonne Baumann within the context of the periodic meetings she holds with multilateral and bilateral development partners to follow up on the portfolio of ongoing development cooperation and discuss future programs and projects to enhance the country’s development vision. The meeting also addressed the Swiss participation in implementing the projects of the national platform for the “NWFE” program, a nexus of water, food and energy projects, in the presence of officials from the Swiss Embassy and the Ministry of International Cooperation.
The meeting between the two sides touched on the follow-up on projects implemented within the framework of the Swiss cooperation program in Egypt for the period from 2021-2024, for which about USD 94 million were allocated to various sectors, such as water and sanitation, green transformation, and enhancing private sector development.
The Minister of International Cooperation pointed out the importance of Egyptian- Swiss economic cooperation relations and the government’s keenness to strengthen this partnership and move it to broader horizons in a way that serves the national development agenda and enhances the implementation of development priorities in various fields, stressing the importance of the programs implemented within the framework of the partnership with the Swiss party and the role of development cooperation in strengthening green transformation efforts and empowering the private sector in Egypt.
The meeting discussed development cooperation programs and future projects that enhance the country’s efforts in the sectors of technical and vocational training, as well as agriculture and food security. The meeting also discussed the funding provided by Switzerland towards efforts supporting refugees in response to the Sudan crisis in Egypt, which amounts to about USD 4.8 million.
The meeting further addressed efforts to prepare for the new Swiss cooperation program in Egypt for the period 2025-2028 which will continue on the line of the current Swiss cooperation program 2021-24 addressing governance and human rights, green growth, skills development for the youth and protection and migration issues. In this regard, the Minister of International Cooperation, emphasized the alignment with the different national strategies.
The Minister highlighted the continuous fruitful cooperation and expressed interest in conducting joint field visits and communication of Swiss cooperation, especially in the skills sector as well as interest to join the preparation of the upcoming Cooperation Program 2025- 2028.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Baumann stated: “We had a fruitful exchange on the current and future international cooperation of Switzerland in Egypt, particularly with regard to green growth, climate change and urban development, as well as the upcoming high-level visit of State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda”.