H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, met with representatives from the Swedish Embassy and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) to discuss the strategic partnership between Egypt and Sweden.
The meeting focused on development projects that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and enhancing the economic relations between the two countries.
The meeting was attended by Håkan Emsgård, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Jakob Granit, Director-General of SIDA, Johanna Nuder, Head of the Economic and Trade Section at the Swedish Embassy in Cairo, Anna Rosendahl, Head of Regional Development Cooperation at SIDA’s Amman Office, and Stina Skiöldebrand, Senior Advisor to the Director-General of SIDA.
At the beginning of the meeting, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat welcomed the attendees and expressed deep appreciation for the longstanding and close bilateral relations between Egypt and Sweden. The cooperation in economic, trade, and cultural fields has been a cornerstone of these relations, reflecting the strong bond between the two peoples.
The Minister emphasized that Egypt has witnessed an increasing presence of major Swedish companies in recent years. Several companies have expanded their investments, particularly in sectors such as technology, consumer electronics, and medical equipment, while other companies also play a crucial role in strengthening economic relations between the two countries. H.E. highlighted that the export credit system is one of the important mechanisms supporting trade and investment exchanges between Egypt and Sweden, contributing to economic growth in both countries.
H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also referred to the current portfolio of developmental cooperation between Egypt and Sweden, which includes several ongoing projects. These include initiatives to improve the stability and efficiency of the electricity grid, enhance electricity infrastructure, and ensure sustainability, in addition to urban transport and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which aims to improve public transportation and promote sustainability in transport.
The Minister underscored the importance of attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Swedish companies to Egypt, as well as increasing technical support within the framework of the “NWFE” program.
H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also highlighted areas of cooperation in healthcare, capacity building, and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
In addition, H.E. noted Egypt’s efforts to align with European carbon border adjustment mechanisms in order to enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian exports.
The Swedish representatives reviewed the development cooperation between Sweden and Egypt, which includes various initiatives that support the Egyptian economy and advancing sustainable development.
Additionally, they outlined the Swedish government's efforts to develop new tools and mechanisms aimed at achieving integration between trade and development, which contributes to supporting trade exchanges and enhancing investments between the two countries.
During the meeting, the Swedish side expressed keenness to strengthen cooperation with the Egyptian government in line with its developmental priorities, with a focus on creating new jobs, supporting trade, promoting green transformation, and assisting low-income groups, whether through technical support or export credit.
It is worth noting that SIDA is a Swedish government agency responsible for implementing development strategies determined by the Swedish government. The partnership with Egypt in this strategy is based on Egypt's status as the largest country in the region, making it a key partner in the development initiatives funded by the agency.