Day: November 18, 2022

Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir has emphasized the importance of strengthening efforts to boost trade exchange between Egypt and the Netherlands, pointing out that the volume of trade exchange between both countries increased 15.7 percent last year amounting to $1.759 billion, compared to $1.52 billion in 2020.

Samir made the remarks during a session of talks he held with Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher on exchanging views about various regional and global economic issues and files of mutual interest.

The two ministers discussed ways to propel bilateral economic relations to levels that help achieve aspirations of the Egyptian and Dutch peoples and are in the interest of both countries’ economies.

Samir said the meeting touched on means of promoting industrial and investment cooperation, and establishing joint projects in a number of priority sectors, including medicine, agriculture, food security projects, new and renewable energy, water resources management, transportation, logistics, and innovation-based industries.

Meanwhile, Schreinemacher asserted her country’s keenness to promote economic cooperation with Egypt in all fields and at all levels; given its position as a pivotal country in the Middle East and North Africa region.

She added that Dutch business circles are interested in investment in the Egyptian market, which she noted represents a key commercial, industrial and logistical hub at the regional and global levels.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

The cabinet’s media center said that EGP 3 billion had been allocated for the presidential initiative “100 Million Trees”.

This came in a report published by the center to shed light on the initiative, which aims at doubling the per capita share of green spaces throughout Egypt, improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The initiative has many environmental, economic and social benefits, according to the report.

It aims at optimizing the utilization of natural resources and investing in them, while providing a clean, healthy and safe environment for the Egyptian people.

The report highlighted the economic benefits of planting different types of trees, whether fruit trees such as olives, or timber trees like mahogany and jatropha or other trees with economic benefits.

As for the social benefits, the plantation of trees doubles the current per capita share of green spaces in Egypt, which is estimated at 1.2 m 2 per capita, in addition to controling pollutants, fumes and dust, a matter that reflects positively on the public health of citizens.

There are three main parties participate in the implementation of the initiative, the Local Development Ministry, which contributes to planting 80 million trees, including 7.7 million trees during the first year.

The Environment Ministry that contributes to planting 13 million trees, including 1.3 million trees in the first year, and the New Urban Communities Authority, which plants 7 million trees, including one million trees in the first year, in addition to other contributions and afforestation projects.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi inspected on Friday the work progress at new axes and road projects in Greater Cairo.

During a tour, Sisi inspected the Gamal Abdel Nasser axis, which connects the Ring Road with the entrance of the New Administrative Capital, and intersects with other major axes like Talaat Harb, Mohamed Naguib, Gezeirah, and El Obour.

The president directed workers to implement the standards while developing the Gamal Abdel Nasser axis to facilitate the movement of citizens.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry announced on Friday that the proceedings of the UN climate conference, COP27, will be extended till Saturday.

Heading a COP27 session, Shoukry pointed out efforts are being exerted to achieve the goals of all parties and progress at all levels.

He asserted that the climate summit’s outcomes would be constructive.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

The Transport Ministry signed on Friday four memorandums of understanding with major international companies in the railway, subway and electric traction domain.

The deals were signed on the sidelines of a session held on “Solutions Day” to discuss innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through transportation projects.

Transport Minister Kamel el Wazir and Andrew DeLeone, the President of Alstom in Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia, signed a deal to launch the first railway academy in Egypt. Alstom Egypt will provide the training and education services.

The minister added that the deal falls within the transport ministry’s cooperation with the company to establish the academy at the UN climate conference (COP27) to shed light on the advantages of rail transport, which is recognized as an environmentally friendly form of transport, and in line with the Sustainable Development Strategy: Egypt’s vision 2030.

“This academy is part of Alstom’s commitment to support the development of the rail industry in the country by ensuring graduates have the relevant knowledge and skills to successfully seek employment opportunities and grow in the industry. More importantly, the program will allow them to apply their learning to solve real mobility challenges,” said Andrew DeLeone.

The railway academy is a customized training program to ensure a strong workforce is in place to support Egypt’s growing rail industry and will enroll up to 300 participants in its first year.

Participants will gain the technical railway skills needed across various fields such as telecommunication, signaling, power supply, centralized control systems and maintenance.

They will also develop project management know-how specifically for the railway sector.

According to Alstom, the academy consists of three programs to address young talent at different stages of their career. The Master Class Program (MCP) is a short-term program of 8 weeks, in partnership with Egyptian National Railway and National Authority of Tunnels for their respective employees. The Master Expert Program (MEP) is a long-term program of 9 months, in partnership with the National Institute of Transport designed for fresh graduates wanting to enter the rail industry, and the Master Training Program (MTP) is a 6 week summer course in partnership with Wardan High Technical Institute for students. These programs will be delivered by trainers from Alstom University, as well as Alstom experts and expected to launch in the first quarter of 2023.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Egypt seeks to effectively fulfill all its pledges on the climate issue.

This came in his speech during a session held on Friday as part of the activities of the conference of the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 27) in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Shoukry, in his word, profusely thanked the ministers of the countries participating in the Sharm El Sheikh Conference for their effective role over the past days in achieving progress and helping to find constructive solutions to the climate issue.

In his speech, Shoukry said Egypt seeks to attain the desired goal and effectively implement its commitments with a view to reaching concrete results that help achieve a large-scale progress in the climate agenda.

Shoukry asserted that tangible progress was made during the working sessions that took place on Monday as part of activities of the Sharm El Sheikh Conference, stressing the urgent need to move forward on the climate issue.

“I am still committed to the end of this conference tomorrow, with the adoption of many decisions that are unanimously agreed upon and that will be comprehensive and balanced,” Shoukry said.

The conference outcome will be transparent and comprehensive, he made it clear.

Shoukry stressed that he would take it upon himself to address all pending matters, expressing his concern about many outstanding issues related to climate finance, mitigation, adaptation and damages and losses, and the links between these matters to confront climate change.

He called on all countries participating in the conference to work on resolving all unsolved issues as soon as possible.

The solutions will contribute to completing the decision framework for considering climate change, Shoukry said.

“Our common responsibility is to find a joint action on the main topics in line with the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),” Shoukry said.

He further expressed the international community’s aspiration to achieve tangible results in all aspects related to the climate change issue under discussion.

He expressed the conference presidency’s readiness to provide all the support needed to achieve this desired goal, saying, “I am sure that there will be a consensus to take action on the ground in a balanced manner.”

Shoukry, the President of the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), said that the outcome of deliberations during the COP27 made us confident in the results that it will come up with.

A lot of bilateral and expanded discussions between the conference presidency and all participating parties will take place in the coming hours, Shoukry said.

He also urged all delegations participating in the conference to show openness, flexibility and recognition of the interests of all parties.

He concluded by hoping that intensive and fruitful discussions among all delegates would help move forward the conference’s desirable goals.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Foreign Minister Sameh Shouky discussed on Friday with Japanese Environment Minister Akihiro Nishimura boosting bilateral cooperation in the fields related to climate and education, Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid said.

The meeting was held on the fringe of the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Sharm El Sheikh city.

Abu Zeid noted that Shoukry was keen on communicating with all parties and listening to their viewpoints of climate-related topics.

For his part, Nishimura expressed his country’s keenness on rendering the COP27 successful, underlining that his country looks forward to cooperating with Egypt in the renewable and clean energy domain.

He also congratulated Egypt on its success to organize the conference.

Source: State Information Service Egypt