Day: December 11, 2022

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Macedonian counterpart Bujar Osmani reiterated on Sunday the deeply-rooted relations binding the two countries.

At a joint press conference, Shoukry said talks tackled boosting political, economic and cultural relations as well as fostering cooperation among Mediterranean partners of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

He said there is a strong political will to boost bilateral cooperation, adding that they agreed on maintaining dialogue and going through the legal framework regulating relations between the two sides.

He said he will meet the invitation he received from the Macedonian foreign minister to visit his country.

Shoukry said he discussed with his Macedonian counterpart the situation in western Balkans and the Middle East in light of challenges besetting the two regions.

Talks also tackled the latest developments of the Palestinian issue, situation in Libya and efforts exerted by Egypt to achieve stability and face terrorism.

Shoukry said Egypt will continue all efforts to have close cooperation relations and set up a friendship based on mutual respect and UN charter.

North Macedonia’s independence and its aspiration for an EU membership opens new vistas for constructive relations between the two sides, he added.

The minister of foreign affairs of North Macedonia and Chairman of the Mediterranean Partners Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe described the talks he held with Shoukry as “frank and clear” as they focused on supporting bilateral relations on the basis of respect, trust and commitment to strengthening relations and finding more opportunities.

He pointed out to the importance of his current visit to Egypt, saying it is “the cornerstone in this framework.”

He said he invited Shoukry to visit Skopje next year, referring to communication between the chambers of commerce in the two countries for the sake of new and diverse horizons.

A number of issues in the Mediterranean basin were discussed, stressing that Egypt is an essential and important partner in its cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and plays an important role in this respect, he said, adding that he informed the Egyptian foreign minister that the cultural and social dimension of Egypt represents the cornerstone of this cooperation.

The organization is working to strengthen the bonds of relations, dialogue and direct communication, he said, referring to the intermediate partners’ contribution to achieve greater cooperation and lasting peace.

About the Arab-Chinese summit held in Riyadh, Shoukry affirmed that Egypt’s approach is consistent with that of the rest of the Arab brothers in establishing balanced relations on the basis of common interests among all international partners.

No one can deny that China is a permanent member state within the UNSC, he said, adding that during the last stage, it was able to make huge achievements in the economic field, becoming the second largest economy in the world and having an impact on its regional and international environment by virtue of its status and capabilities.

The Arab countries are interested in having balanced relations with all international partners in order to achieve common interests. Egypt and its Arab partners and brothers are interested in strengthening relations with the Chinese partner, which leads to expanded scope of political, economic and cultural cooperation, he added.

On the issue of illegal immigration, the North Macedonia foreign minister said his country fully appreciates the Egyptian role in confronting this issue.

Shoukry added that the talks dealt with the issue of illegal immigration and that Egypt is aware of the sensitivity of this issue for Europe.

Egypt continues its role in monitoring its maritime borders and working to dismantle organized crime organizations, he said, referring to Egypt’s development efforts to protect citizens from immigration. No illegal immigration ship has left Egypt since 2016, he stressed.

Egypt is committed to all legal frameworks that deal with the issue of migration and we look at it from a human and civilized perspective, he said, pointing out that Egypt received about 6 million immigrants, taking into account the motives that prompted them to leave their homelands.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Minister of State for Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs Soha Samir Gendi said President Abdel Fattah El Sisi gives great attention to Egyptians abroad and is highly keen on keeping all Egyptian expatriates linked to their homeland, with a view to pressing ahead toward realizing Egypt’s aspired future and sustainable development down the road trodden to the New Republic.

In an interview Sunday with MENA Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Ali Hassan, the minister of state for emigration and Egyptian expatriates’ affairs said, the State puts Egyptians expats’ affairs on the top of its priorities, adding that her ministry is working on promoting its continued contact with Egyptians overseas, along with solving out all problems that they might face.

Gendi said her ministry is looking forward to benefiting from the expertise of all Egyptian expats’ and the skills they boast in their various specialties.

All drives are meant to have Egyptians living abroad contribute to the establishment of the New Republic and further merge them into an all-out Egyptian sustainable development scheme, together with ongoing mega national development ventures in Egypt, added the minister.

According to the minister of emigration and Egyptian expatriate’s affairs, the ministry has succeeded in carrying out the political leadership’s directives in linking Egyptian expats to their home country; being Egypt’s real power and first line of defense abroad, a community with whom the ministry is highly keen on keeping constant contact with, through social websites and direct meetings.

The ministry’s complaint unit is working around the clock to respond to all enquires of Egyptian expatriates and to hold virtual meetings with members of Egyptian communities abroad every Sunday to stand on and address all challenges besetting them, in addition to posting them on the key developments Egypt is witnessing in the various fields under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, besides the possibility of capitalizing on all services offered by the ministry, Gendi noted.

She urged Egyptian expatriates to follow up the ministry’s official Facebook accounts to get acquainted with all activities they might benefit from covering a wide range of domains, including the education, economic, banking and development projects fields.

The minister also said her ministry is looking forward to organize trips for Egyptians of 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th generations to Egypt, especially those who were not born or raised up in Egypt to come and visit their homeland to link them to their country and make them know more about Egypt.

The minister of emigration and Egyptian expatriates’ affairs cited a number of trips organized by the ministry to Egyptians abroad to get them more acquainted with their country.

Answering a question on illegal immigration, the minister underlined the importance of the presidential initiative “Life Saving Boats”, which is floated under the sponsorship of President Sisi to fight illegal immigration, highlighting the Egyptian State’s efforts in this regard.

Answering a question on the Conference of Entities and Egyptians Abroad, she said the conference has contributed to addressing a wide range of issues and topics of concern to Egyptian expatriates, with the aim of introducing Egyptian entities abroad to the development efforts taking place in the homeland.

She shed light on efforts to lure Egyptian expatriates to investments in Egypt, through a number of attractive loans to get them further involved in development action plans in the country.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Chairman of the Agricultural Professions Syndicate Sayyed Ali Khalifa said President Abdel Fattah El Sisi had foresight for confronting the food security crisis.

He expounded that President Sisi established national agricultural projects to confront the challenges facing the world.

He made the remarks in an interview with MENA correspondent in Amman during his participation in the Arab Agro Forum in the Jordanian capital.

He noted that President Sisi has expanded fish and livestock farming and agricultural greenhouses.

He added that these projects contributed to overcoming the coronavirus crisis and surviving the deteriorating international economic situation triggered by the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

Khalifa said Egypt has supply chains, enjoys self-sufficiency of all vegetables and fruits and exports crops abroad.

Thanks to the national projects, the total agricultural exports reached about 6 million tons last year, he noted.

He referred to the legislations issued recently to curb violations on agricultural lands.

He noted that the president directed to plant 2.5 million palm trees in Aswan to boost exports of Egyptian dates in addition to the 1.5 million feddan cultivation project.

He added that the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) placed agriculture security at the top of states’ interest.

He highlighted the importance of joint Arab action in the agricultural domain which is vital for national Arab security.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

That Cyprus-Egypt relations are at their highest level is an evaluation that represents an indisputable reality, according to Financial Mirror website.

The two countries have developed a network of cooperation within this framework in various fields.

Primarily comes the field of energy which has functioned as a catalyst of this cooperation.

The newly discovered gas fields in the Cypriot EEZ have recently acquired major importance, given the consequences of the war in Ukraine, which Europe had to face.

Therefore, Cypriot energy potential must be linked to that of Egypt before being re-exported to Europe.

In this respect, it augers well that an agreement has been signed between Cyprus and Egypt to connect Aphrodite, the biggest Cyprus gas field, with Egyptian liquefaction plants.

Moreover, the signing of the Memorandum between Cyprus, Egypt, and Greece for an electricity connection project, holds the enormous potential of connecting the electricity grids not only of the three signatories but also of both continents together, thus diversifying their energy mix and enhancing Europe’s energy independence.

Extremely useful is also the fact that in 2019 Egypt partnered with regional countries (Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, and Palestine) the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), with headquarters in Cairo.

Urgent problems caused by climate change and the need to take measures to confront them gave another opportunity for cooperation between Cyprus and Egypt to elevate their national priorities to the regional and international level.

During COP27, the Presidents of Cyprus and Egypt co-chaired the summit to present the Nicosia-led Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East climate change initiative.

Only through cooperation can the implementation of the recommendations of this Initiative Regional Action Plan be realised.

There is a high potential for economic cooperation based on a wide range of possibilities in commerce and investment.

In general, within the wider framework of the Eastern Mediterranean, the role of Egypt is of paramount importance because of the recent challenges and developments in the region, it said.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Trade and Industry Minister Ahmed Samir had talks on Sunday with EU Ambassador Christian Berger on means of enhancing economic cooperation in the coming period, especially within the framework of the Egyptian-European Partnership Agreement.

He highlighted the depth of bilateral ties, noting that the EU is the biggest economic partner to Egypt.

He said the talks tackled the Egyptian state’s efforts to give momentum to the private sector, especially in view of the consecutive international crises; the coronvirus crisis and the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

The two sides agreed to intensify communication in the coming period to encourage European companies to inject more investments into the Egyptian market.

The talks also reviewed means of holding a business forum in Egypt with the participation of businessmen, the chambers of commerce and business unions of both sides to stand on available investment opportunities.

He noted that Egypt seeks to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in order to become an industrial hub for European products and export them to African markets.

For his part, Berger stressed the European Commission’s interest in enhancing political and economic cooperation with Egypt which is the most important regional partner.

He lauded the efforts exerted by Egypt to improve the investment climate, offer facilitation to investors and boost the private sector’s contribution to the local economy.

Source: State Information Service Egypt