● Dr. Rania Al-Mashat: The Partnership for Sustainable Development Program lays the foundation for sustainable cooperation between Egypt and Spain, reinforcing shared historic relations.
● Egyptian-Spanish relations are witnessing growing momentum, supported by the leadership of both nations, contributing to joint development and promoting policies for growth and employment.
● Strengthening areas of joint work in the strategic priority sectors for both countries, particularly climate change, economic development, food security, women’s empowerment, and water projects.
● The Partnershop for Sustainable Development Program expands the scope of joint efforts between Egypt and Spain to include triangular cooperation and regional programs, building on Egypt’s expertise.
● A bilateral committee composed of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation and the Spanish side will follow up on the implementation of the Partnership for Sustainable Development Program
As part of the historic visit of King Felipe VI of Spain to Egypt, and within the framework of the Egyptian-Spanish Business Forum, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and Mr. José Manuel Albares, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, signed the Partnership for Sustainable Development Program; the first of its kind between the two countries, affirming their shared commitment to developing joint economic relations.
The agreement reflects the ongoing progress in Egyptian-Spanish relations under the strategic partnership signed between the two countries in February 2025, and confirms both nations’ desire to support joint development efforts, particularly in priority strategic sectors.
Following the signing, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat stated that the historic first visit of King Felipe VI and his meeting with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi confirm the strength of relations between both nations. She stressed that Egyptian-Spanish relations are witnessing steady growth supported by the leadership of both countries, contributing to joint development and strengthening growth and employment policies.
She added that the Partnership for Sustainable Development Program marks the beginning of a new phase based on principles of equality in relations, continuous dialogue, and joint action, through a set of shared goals, priorities, and challenges. It serves as a guiding framework for joint efforts to advance progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Today we take a firm step towards the future with the signing of the Partnership for Sustainable Development Program. This agreement not only strengthens our current commitments, but also charts the path to facing future challenges together and provides a model of reference for the world of cooperation,” said Mr. José Manuel Albares, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.
Additionally, Al-Mashat confirmed that this agreement aims to strengthen the historic ties between the two countries by activating a renewed and sustainable development cooperation framework. She added that this newly signed Partnership for Sustainable Development Program is the first of its kind worldwide for the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), as it establishes a cooperation model between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Spain based on the shared strategic priorities of both nations.
Dr. Al-Mashat pointed out that the Partnership for Sustainable Development agreement embodies the shared challenges, agreed priorities, and proposed action plans between the two sides in the fields of inclusive and sustainable economic development, food security, women’s empowerment, combating climate change, water and sanitation. Building on Egypt’s expertise, she explained that this cooperation will be implemented through a variety of mechanisms and tools, including bilateral projects and programs, technical assistance, regional cooperation, triangular cooperation, multilateral cooperation, and more.
The program was formulated based on the SDGs, Egypt’s Vision 2030, and the various initiatives and programs adopted by the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation along with other ministries and state entities. It also adopts monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to regularly follow up on progress and agree on the details of cooperation over the five years of its duration.
Cooperation with the Spanish side began through coordination between the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation and a number of relevant Egyptian ministries, in a process of joint collaboration and dialogue aimed at identifying shared challenges and priorities.
The final outcomes of this process reflect an approach based on two main priorities: enhancing cooperation in areas where Egypt and Spain face similar challenges and priorities, with special attention to climate change issues and addressing migration from a rights-based perspective, as well as identifying Spain’s comparative advantages in cooperation based on the extensive expertise of Spanish institutions in sectors such as healthcare and agriculture.
Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized that this Partnership Program represents the beginning of a new phase built on horizontal principles of equality in relations, continuous dialogue, and joint action. The shared goals, priorities, and challenges outlined in this strategic document; jointly agreed upon by Egyptian authorities and Spanish cooperation, form the reference framework and strategic substance for the measures to be implemented and the commitments expected to be undertaken.
She stated that a bilateral committee will be formed, composed of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation and the Spanish Embassy in Egypt, to closely monitor the implementation of the Partnership for Sustainable Development Program in coordination with relevant stakeholders from both nations.