● Al-Mashat: Egypt–Japan relations are built on mutual understanding and a shared commitment to development.
● Our cooperation portfolio with Japan covers education, health, culture, and capacity building, aligned with Egypt’s national priorities.
● We are exploring new avenues of partnership focusing on private sector empowerment, innovation-driven solutions, and technology localization.
● Egypt–Japan relations set a regional and global example of effective development cooperation grounded in shared interests.
● JICA President: Egypt holds a pivotal position as Japan’s gateway to Africa and a key bridge between Africa and the Arab world.
● We continue our partnership with the Egyptian government across multiple sectors to contribute to the country’s development journey.
● The report highlights 70 years of constructive partnership in development cooperation and details the portfolio of joint projects between both countries.
Coinciding with Egypt’s participation at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), represented by a high-level delegation led by Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly on behalf of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), launched a joint report marking 70 years of partnership under the title “Egypt-JICA Cooperation: 70 Years of Friendship and Trust”
The report—jointly prepared by the Ministry and JICA—highlights seven decades of strong cooperation between Egypt and Japan and showcases the impact of this partnership on Egypt’s development cooperation portfolio with JICA. It documents JICA’s contributions to financing pioneering projects across education, health, transport, energy, and capacity building. Landmark projects include the Egypt–Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Cairo Opera House, and Cairo Metro Line 4.
In her foreword to the report, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, affirmed that by commemorating the 70th anniversary of Egyptian-Japanese relations, “we are not only celebrating decades of continuous ties but a strategic partnership looking toward a sustainable future, built on mutual understanding, policy alignment, and a shared commitment to achieving inclusive and sustainable development.”
She further explained that Egypt’s cooperation with JICA, supported by various Japanese institutions, has resulted in a comprehensive development cooperation portfolio aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and government priorities. This includes investments in human capital and infrastructure development. Dr. Al-Mashat stressed that, in light of the recent upgrading of bilateral relations, Egypt is exploring new dimensions of partnership, such as localizing industry and technology, and enhancing private sector participation, in line with government priorities. She underscored that Egypt–Japan cooperation stands as a regional and international model for effective, mutually beneficial development partnership.
For his part, Dr. Akihiko Tanaka, President of JICA, expressed appreciation for the mutual trust and notable achievements realized throughout the partnership with Egypt. He noted that the cooperation journey, which began in 1954, has flourished over decades, encompassing projects such as the Cairo University Pediatric Hospital, the Cairo Opera House, and E-JUST.
Dr. Tanaka affirmed that Egypt plays a pivotal role as Japan’s gateway to Africa and as a vital bridge connecting Africa and the Arab world. He stressed JICA’s continued commitment to partnering with the Egyptian government across multiple sectors to contribute to the country’s development efforts.
According to the report, Egypt’s cooperation portfolio with JICA amounts to approximately USD 2.4 billion in grants and technical assistance since the beginning of cooperation, in addition to concessional financing worth USD 7.2 billion. The portfolio encompasses investments in cultural heritage preservation, inclusive growth, and landmark infrastructure projects.
The report further highlights how Egypt’s national priorities align with Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy, which focuses on: promoting sustainable economic growth, advancing education and human capacity development, supporting the green transition, and fostering social inclusion. It also underscores Egypt’s South–South cooperation role, noting that since 1985, Egypt has trained more than 7,100 individuals from 59 countries with JICA’s support.
The report also noted landmark Egyptian-Japanese projects, such as the Peace Bridge over the Suez Canal (2001), the Gulf of El-Zayt Wind Farm (2018 – 220 MW), the Health Partnership—supporting Egypt since the 1970s including the construction of Abu El-Reesh Children’s Hospital, the Egypt-Japan Education Partnership (EJEP) launched in 2016, the Abe Initiative enabling African and Egyptian youth to study and work in Japan, and the JICA Volunteer Program, where more than 350 volunteers have worked in Egypt since 1996 in education, healthcare, and social services, in addition to Cairo Metro Line 4 – Phase I (still under implementation).
The report concludes by outlining three main pillars of Egypt–Japan cooperation:
1.Sustainable Economic Growth with support for transport, infrastructure, energy, and inclusive growth.
2.Social Inclusion and Quality of Life with support for education, health, and water management.
3.Green Transition and Environmental Sustainability with support for renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate change mitigation.
Read the full report here:
https://moic.gov.eg/en/news/2399