The history of economic cooperation between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Austria dates back to 1975 when the two countries signed an agreement for economic and technical cooperation. Following Austria's accession to the European Union, a new agreement for economic and technical cooperation was signed in 1996, within which two sessions of the Egyptian-Austrian joint committee were held in 2001 and 2005, and the two committees resulted in the signing of a protocol that includes the most important things that were agreed upon between the two parties regarding the development of economic and technical cooperation relations. And aspects of future cooperation.

On the sidelines of the Egyptian-Austrian Business Forum, which Cairo hosted in April 2023, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, and Karl Nehammer, Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, witnessed the signing ceremony of a letter of intent regarding enhancing economic cooperation between Egypt and the Federal Ministry of Labor and Economy of the Republic of Austria, through The Joint Economic Committee, within the framework of the strong bilateral economic relations between Egypt and Austria, and the desire to increase economic cooperation. The letter of intent was signed by H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, and Ambassador Peter Lönski Tiefenthal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria.

Within the framework of the close relations between Egypt and the United Kingdom, more than £50 million was provided during the period between 2016 and 2020 to support comprehensive and sustainable development in Egypt, in addition to guaranteeing a loan from the World Bank to Egypt worth $150 million. Support focuses on inclusive economic growth, education, youth, social development and regional cooperation; This includes £12 million to support basic education reforms in Egypt, targeting marginalized communities, according to the UK-Egypt Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation.

Furthermore, the UK is one of the largest investors in Egypt, having invested $48 billion across all sectors, including oil and gas, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and fast-moving consumer goods. Egypt and the United Kingdom established the British Investors Forum to encourage investment in Egypt.

During the year 2023 in Sharm El-Sheikh, the Minister of International Cooperation met with the Minister for International Development and Africa of the United Kingdom, Andrew Mitchell, where they discussed developments in the Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA), which was launched in cooperation with the United Kingdom, in light of joint efforts to support emerging companies and innovative solutions in the field. Climate Action, worth 10 million pounds sterling, to advance climate action, and cooperate with governments in middle-income countries to stimulate increased climate financing, through joint work between financing providers, experts, and those concerned with climate action.

During the activities of the second session of the Egypt- International Cooperation Forum (Egypt-ICF) in September 2022, the joint country strategy between the government and the African Development Bank 2022-2026 was launched, which comes within the framework of fruitful and extended cooperation between the two sides after a period of consultations that lasted over two years. With the aim of identifying priority areas for joint action to enhance regional integration, based on two main pillars:

Enhancing the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy to support private sector-led growth

Strengthening resilience in the food, water and energy security sectors

Since the launch of the new cooperation framework in 2022, the partnership between the two sides has been strengthened according to two main pillars as follows: -

The first pillar: Supporting the private sector through the Bank of Egypt, where a credit guarantee was provided to the Ministry of Finance to issue panda bonds in the Chinese yuan. The proceeds will be used to implement national projects targeting environmentally friendly projects

The second pillar: The electricity and green growth support program amounted to €83 million, the food security and economic resilience support program amounted to $271 million, the third phase of the Jabal al-Asfar wastewater treatment plant amounted to €110 million, and the financing of the second phase of preparing studies on the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Victoria amounted to $2 million.

The continued cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development comes under the umbrella of the strategic partnership between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America, which extends over the past decades and whose results are reflected in the programs and projects implemented in many vital sectors, including basic education, higher education, health, and governance. Supporting small and medium enterprises, tourism and agriculture, and stimulating the private sector.

At the end of 2022, the Ministry of International Cooperation, with the United States Agency for International Development, signed grants worth $160 million, within the framework of joint economic relations between Egypt and the United States Agency for International Development, which enhances development cooperation in several fields, and is consistent with the state’s development vision. The agreements varied to serve the various sectors of the state, for example, the Egyptian-American Initiative for Higher Education, stimulating trade and investment in Egypt, developing agricultural and rural businesses and increasing income, in addition to the climate change initiative agreement worth $15 million, in addition to other agreements in the field of basic education and health.

Currently, a number of projects are being implemented in cooperation between the concerned authorities and the US Agency, and they are consistent with the presidential initiative for integrated development of the Egyptian countryside, “A Decent Life,” as 7 projects are being implemented in 17 governorates, out of 20 governorates targeted by the initiative, and the projects vary in the areas of water management solutions. Developing agricultural businesses in the Egyptian countryside, empowering women and supporting women entrepreneurs, the economic and social empowerment program for women, supporting literacy for children and mothers, and the family planning program.

It is worth noting that the development cooperation portfolio between the government and the United States Agency for International Development has amounted to about $1 billion since 2014, within the scope of which many projects and programs are being implemented in the fields of basic education, higher education, small and medium-sized companies, private sector support, tourism, and agriculture.

Since 1976, Egyptian-Canadian development cooperation relations have developed, with total aid and technical support over this period amounting to approximately CA$1.22 billion, including $567.6 million in the form of grants, and the remaining value as soft development financing.

In 2023, the Minister of International Cooperation, with Louis Dumas, the Canadian Ambassador to Cairo, signed a grant agreement worth CA$10 million, to enhance food security efforts and combat climate change through the project “Promoting climate-smart agriculture and agricultural biodiversity to support adaptive capacity in the most rural communities.” affected by climate changes in the old and new lands of the Nile Delta and Upper Egypt,” within the framework of integration with the Egyptian government’s efforts to implement the NWFE program, the pillar of the link between water, food, and energy projects. The project is scheduled to be implemented in cooperation between national bodies, including the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture and Local Development, the National Council for Women, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The Arab Republic of Egypt and the People's Republic of China have a long-term historical relationship, as the two countries are among the most important, oldest and most ancient civilizations in the world, and the areas of development cooperation with the Chinese side are diverse at the level of soft development financing and technical support in various sectors.

Since 2014, Egyptian relations have witnessed an unprecedented boom based on the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed by Mr. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Chinese President, Mr. Xi Jinping, during the visit to the Chinese capital, Beijing, which is the agreement that regulates all aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields, especially economic, trade and investment.

The cooperation portfolio with the State of China amounts to about $1.7 billion to implement many projects in various development sectors, including electricity, health, education, vocational training, and others. During the year 2022, technical cooperation for capacity building and human resources development was strengthened with the Chinese side through the implementation of approximately 301 training programs in the fields of agriculture, trade, industry, electricity, communications, transportation, solidarity, health, planning, youth, sports, finance, culture and petroleum, as well as the Egyptian Space Agency, the General Investment Authority and the Suez Canal Authority.

In 2021, the Minister of International Cooperation and the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Cairo signed a new economic and technical cooperation agreement, within the framework of joint development efforts and strategic relations between the two countries. Through the new agreement, a number of development grants will be made available that will benefit priority sectors. In the country, to promote Egypt’s Vision 2030.

During the Ministry of International Cooperation’s participation in the International Action for Development Forum in China during the year 2023, several memorandums of understanding were signed that enhance the prospects for future cooperation with China, between the Minister of International Cooperation, H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, and the head of the Chinese agency, the following documents: -

Memorandum of Understanding “Global Development Initiative” to strengthen the Egyptian-Chinese partnership and work to formulate an integrated strategy for development cooperation between Egypt and China for a period of 3-5 years for the first time in light of the common relations between the two countries, including the areas and projects that will be implemented through the development cooperation program.

Signing cooperation documents to provide Chinese grants to supply equipment for mobile security vehicle systems to the Ministry of Transport, establishing a vocational training center in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, and preparing a feasibility study for the third level biosafety laboratory for the Ministry of Health.

The New Development Bank is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in 2015 with the aim of promoting sustainable development and regional cooperation with investing in infrastructure projects in emerging economies. Since its establishment, the New Development Bank has approved financing for more than 90 projects with a total value of $32 billion. These projects have helped improve transportation, water supplies, energy and other infrastructure in developing countries.

In 2023, Egypt officially joined the bank along with other countries, joining the list of major emerging countries. In May 2023, the Minister of International Cooperation participated in the annual meetings of the New Development Bank (NBD), in its eighth session, which was held at its headquarters in Shanghai, China, under the slogan “Shaping a new era for global development,” in light of efforts to strengthen development cooperation relations with partners. Multilateral and bilateral development, and promoting the national development vision that is consistent with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Egypt's membership in the New Development Bank enhances the efforts made by the Egyptian government to promote development and achieve integration of efforts with emerging economies and developing countries, to mobilize the necessary resources to finance infrastructure and sustainable development projects.

The Minister of International Cooperation holds the position of Egypt's alternate governor in the New Development Bank, and Egypt's joining the bank reflects the commitment to working with international partners to promote development and an opportunity to discuss Egypt's development priorities with other leaders, and explore ways of cooperation in future projects.

Since its establishment, the Asian Bank has expanded its support for green, resilient and sustainable infrastructure sectors, and as a founding member from outside the continent of Asia, Egypt has launched comprehensive, strong and unique partnerships with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank over a period of eight years, valuing the close partnership with the AIIB in implementing water and energy projects, within the NWFE program, which is a partnership that builds on the tireless efforts made since 2016.

The development cooperation portfolio of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Egypt amounts to about $1.3 billion, including $300 million in water management, $360 million to support the budget, €250 million to launch the Abu Qir electric metro, and $210 million to finance 11 private sector companies in Egypt. The field of renewable energy, and a $150 million credit line to the National Bank of Egypt.

In light of strengthening South-South cooperation, and complementing Egypt’s efforts to become a member of the New Development Bank, the formulation of a strategy for cooperation with Egypt is currently being discussed. toFinancing priority projects in the field of infrastructure in general, especially green projects and technological infrastructure, financing projects related to productive sectors and projects that enhance connectivity and communication between countries, and supporting and empowering the private sector.

South Korea is considered one of Egypt's most important Asian development partners, as economic relations began in 1987. The size of the development cooperation portfolio amounts to $1.3 billion, including about $85 million in development grants through the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOIKA) in the fields of higher education, intellectual property, and training. vocational, information technology, establishing an electronic system for government procurement, women’s economic empowerment, and combating violence; While soft development funds vary in the areas of railways, manufacturing of subway train cars, programs for transferring expertise and knowledge, and programs for developing the capabilities of government cadres.

In 2021, South Korea chose Egypt to be a strategic partner in the development cooperation plans during the period from 2022-2026, and during the visit of the Korean President to Egypt in early 2022, and his meeting with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Egypt and South Korea signed a memorandum of understanding worth $1 billion within the framework of development cooperation. between the two countries for the period 2022-2026.

The strategic pillars for the next four years within the framework of cooperation between Egypt and South Korea are based on the following:

- Achieving macroeconomic stability, enhancing industrial competitiveness, and creating job opportunities.

- Achieving green growth, enhancing energy security, and reducing carbon emissions.

- Establishing innovation and knowledge exchange systems based on information infrastructure between the two countries.

- Raising the efficiency of the government apparatus and creating digital systems to improve the transparency of government work.

- Integrating adaptation and mitigation measures into government policies.

- Improving the efficiency of transportation networks and railway signaling systems.

- Improving the efficiency of vocational training and technical education in Egypt by increasing the number of graduates who are trained to become skilled workers.

The first meeting of the Egyptian-Japanese Joint Committee was held in 1983, in Cairo, and joint relations witnessed a boom over the decades at all levels. A technical cooperation agreement was signed to implement general and specialized training programmes, workshops and scholarships, and the implementation of many Japanese grant and loan projects began in several sectors. Development, especially in the areas of health, agriculture, small and medium industries, renewable energy, electricity, and infrastructure.

Joint relations witnessed a qualitative leap during the era of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, as the late Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo Abe, visited Egypt in 2015, followed by the visit of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to Tokyo in 2016, upon which advanced steps were taken to begin a new phase of bilateral relations. And launching several initiatives for joint cooperation in the fields of education, health, electricity and infrastructure.

Japan is one of the most important Asian development partners for Egypt, as the development cooperation portfolio includes more than 18 development projects in support of the government’s plan to achieve sustainable development goals, with a value of approximately $3.9 billion, from 2010 until now, in addition to many development grants in the fields of Health, education, energy, electricity, transportation, civil aviation, tourism, antiquities, irrigation, and education, in a way that supports sustainable economic growth, social inclusion, education development, human resources development, regional cooperation, and support of the national strategy to combat climate change.

Within the framework of the coordination role of the Ministry of International Cooperation to discuss ways to enhance the Egyptian-Japanese partnership through economic diplomacy efforts, an annual high-level policy dialogue is held between the Egyptian and Japanese sides to discuss proposals for future cooperation and technical cooperation, in line with the development pillars and Egypt’s Vision 2030, in In light of the role played by the Ministry of International Cooperation to coordinate between government agencies and multilateral and bilateral development partners.

Egyptian-Vietnamese relations go back to the 1960s, and in 1997 an agreement was signed to form a joint committee between the two countries to enhance economic cooperation. Vietnam is one of the founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

The strength of relations between the two countries was evident in the visit of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the Republic of Vietnam as the first visit by an Egyptian president in 2017, followed by the visit of the late President Tran Dai Quang to the Arab Republic of Egypt in 2018. The two visits were an affirmation of the strength and durability of relations and witnessed the signing of about 17 cooperation documents between the two countries. In the fields of investment, tourism, culture, energy, exports and other vital fields.

Last July, the Minister of International Cooperation held a session of discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, Tran Le Quang, during his visit to Egypt at the head of a high-level delegation in the first visit by officials from the Vietnamese government since the Corona pandemic, where the meeting witnessed a discussion of strengthening joint cooperation relations between the two countries in various fields. 

The visit reflects the endeavor to expand the scope of joint work between the two countries in all fields based on the strength and durability of the relations that began in 1963, as it coincided with the sixtieth anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which constitutes an opportunity to move towards a new phase based on the development priorities of the two countries to enhance economic cooperation. Especially in light of the challenges faced by all countries of the world.