● “Al-Mashat”: Strengthening efforts with JICA to encourage Japanese investments across various sectors.

● The annual policy dialogue between the two countries is an effective mechanism to set future cooperation priorities.

● Enhancing triangular cooperation mechanisms between Egypt, Japan, and African countries to exchange development expertise.

● Looking forward to more financial mechanisms from JICA for both local and foreign private sectors.

● Development cooperation with JICA has contributed to driving economic development across various sectors.

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, held a meeting with Dr. TANAKA Akihiko, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to discuss strengthening the strategic partnership between Egypt and Japan and explore future cooperation prospects. This took place during her visit to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of development cooperation between the two nations.

At the outset of the meeting, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat expressed gratitude for the warm reception by the Japanese side and emphasized the importance of celebrating seven decades of partnership. She highlighted the mutual desire to expand cooperation, particularly in promoting private sector investment and introducing new financial mechanisms.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat  emphasized the significance of celebrating 70 years of partnership between the two countries, highlighting the strategic cooperation between them and the mutual desire to enhance the partnership to include more areas of common interest, particularly in promoting the private sector, attracting investments, and providing additional financial mechanisms.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat noted that JICA is a key partner for Egypt in implementing development cooperation projects and providing technical support as part of the Egypt-Japan partnership. JICA’s operations in Egypt aim to support the country’s economic and social development, contributing to the enhancement of peace and stability in the Middle East and Africa.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also discussed the third edition of the high-level policy dialogue, held last August, aimed at strengthening the development partnership. This dialogue serves as a critical mechanism for setting future cooperation strategies, fully aligned with the priorities of both the Egyptian and Japanese governments. It is characterized by the active participation of Japanese national agencies as development partners, alongside broad involvement from various Egyptian ministries that represent a wide range of national goals and requirements. H.E. Minister Al-Mashat affirmed that the Egyptian government is making every effort to implement structural reforms to enhance macroeconomic stability.

The two sides also reviewed the status of ongoing projects supported by JICA, including the Grand Egyptian Museum project, one of the most prominent initiatives in the Egypt-Japan partnership, and cooperation with the Suez Canal Authority to provide a rescue tugboat for the Authority’s fleet, as part of efforts to develop the canal’s navigational route and support the Authority’s maritime fleet, among other projects.

The meeting also addressed the partnership with Japan to enhance tripartite cooperation in knowledge exchange and capacity building. The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation places significant emphasis on this, in line with its strategy to promote South-South and Triangular Cooperation, which aims to help African countries benefit from Egypt’s competitive advantages in various development sectors. Additionally, given regional and international initiatives, Japan supports Egypt’s pivotal role in addressing challenges in the African region, such as food security, water issues, and universal health coverage. The Ministry stated that it will work with JICA to issue a report on the development cooperation portfolio and the role of financing for development in enhancing tripartite cooperation.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted the private sector projects implemented by JICA, noting the agency’s first investment in Egypt’s energy sector following the COP27 conference. This includes the establishment of a 500 MW solar power plant in Kom Ombo, Aswan, under the “NWFE” program, with an investment of $88.3 million. This project contributes to mitigating the impacts of climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions.