Day: December 13, 2022

The Minister of International Cooperation H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat received the award for “Most Visionary and Outstanding Minister of International Cooperation of 2022 in Africa”.

The award was presented by the George Washington University Institute of African Studies and the GE7 Initiative at the Visionary Leaders Annual Summit in Washington D.C.

This comes in line with the second U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit hosted by the USA in the presence of the U.S. President and African heads of state.

The award was presented by the Director of George Washington University Institute of African Studies Dr. Jennifer Cooke, in the presence of the Founder of GE7 Initiative Amy Sarr Fall, and many representatives of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) such as the World Bank Group (WBG), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the African Export-Import Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), and along with students and researchers at major US universities, representatives of US government, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and many others.

The ceremony began with a presentation of a short documentary film about the Minister’s efforts and contributions to strengthening international cooperation and advancing sustainable development efforts.

Al-Mashat was honored in recognition of her efforts in advancing international cooperation in 2022, and the minister’s pivotal role in reformulating the mechanisms of international cooperation and development financing, all in line with achieving Egypt’s national objectives and ensuring their consistency with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This is also in line with Al-Mashat’s commitment to launching innovative and practical initiatives to mobilize necessary financing and international support on climate issues and the green transformation on a global and local level at COP27, held in Sharm El-Sheikh.

This was done especially through the launch of the Sharm El-Sheikh Guidebook for Just Financing and Egypt’s Country Platform for the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy NWFE Program.

During the ceremony, Al-Mashat thanked H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his support and commitment to enhancing economic diplomacy and international cooperation efforts, as well as consolidating relations on a global level to enhance progress towards development while also meeting Egypt’s national objectives.

Since her appointment as the Ministry of International Cooperation, Al-Mashat initiated a practical and global framework for international cooperation and development financing through the pillars of economic diplomacy, all in line with the UN frameworks and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

This is to enhance the effectiveness of international cooperation in stimulating development efforts between Egypt and all its multilateral and bilateral partners, supporting the national vision and its consistency with the 2030 UN SDGs.

This has proven its effectiveness and flexibility in facing successive economic and geopolitical challenges, and in addressing the most important contemporary and climate-related issues that require close cooperation and coordination between countries, IFIs, and relevant stakeholders.

To that end, the Ministry of International Cooperation launched the Sharm El-Sheikh Guidebook for Just Financing at COP27 and presented developments in moving from pledges to implementation through Egypt’s Country Platform for the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy (NWFE Program).

In the coming period, these initiatives will be on the agenda of priorities for cooperation with IFIs, including discussions on how to ensure knowledge sharing and transfer to other developing and emerging economies.

Innovative mechanisms were presented in the launch of the NWFE Program, putting forth an integrated approach to climate finance and addressing adaptation, mitigation, and resilience efforts through a practical model built on a regional and international level.

In turn, this supports the implementation of climate commitments by providing international support to stimulate the green transition.

This has also been applauded by many development partners such as the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, the European Commissions, the European Union, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), and others.

Moreover, the Sharm El-Sheikh Guidebook for Just Financing was also launched as one of the initiatives presented by the COP27 Presidency.

The guidebook was prepared over the past year in cooperation with over 100 stakeholders from development partners, IFIs, NGOs, and the private sector; all working towards developing a mechanism and tools for a clear framework that enhances the ability of countries to provide innovative climate financing, supporting emerging countries in their just, green transition.

On the road to COP27, the Ministry of International Cooperation hosted the second edition of the Egypt – International Cooperation Forum (Egypt – ICF), convening African ministers of finance, economy, and environment.

It was held under the patronage and in the presence of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, together with the international community, practical examples of a framework for cooperation and development finance were presented with a special focus on Africa, setting priorities in the green transition.

During the ceremony, Al-Mashat also presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Don Stephens, the Founder of Mercy Ship which was established in 1978 to provide free healthcare services to low-income citizens in developing and developed countries.

In the past 36 years, Mercy Ship has made over 564 voyages in 53 developing and 17 developed countries, worth $1 billion, where health care services to over 2.3 million citizens were provided in Africa and other countries, as well as 61 thousand free surgeries.

When receiving his award, Stephens also thanked President El Sisi and Egypt for their role in facilitating the transit of ships to the African continent and for waiving traffic fees through the Suez Canal so that Mercy Ships can carry on its role in promoting healthcare for citizens.

Notable the George Washington University Institute of African Studies is a multidisciplinary center in the Elliott School of International Affairs, connecting students and researchers who have an interest in the African Continent.

Moreover, the GE7 Initiative is a global initiative that promotes the SDGs, discusses challenges that impede the SDGs and economic growth, and promotes investment in human capital.

The GE7 Visionary Leaders Annual Summit was held this year in Washington to honor influential African leaders one day before the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

President of the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) Counselor Boulos Fahmy asserted that the State, its leadership and all authorities are keen on respecting the rulings of the SCC and enforcing them upon their issuance in compliance with the state’s constitution, noting that the Egyptian judiciary has never recorded any violation by the state or the government in respecting the constitution.

Addressing the opening session of the 16th round of the scientific conference of courts union and Arab constitutional councils, which is currently convening in Cairo to address challenges facing the constitutional courts in maintaining principles and values included in the Arab states’ constitutions.

Counselor Boulos reiterated the need for exerting more efforts and enhancing constructive cooperation to develop and modernize ways of constitutional supervision in a way that guarantees the supremacy of constitutions and guarantees the peoples’ rights to freedom, justice, equality, social justice and development.

He also underlined the need for consolidating judicial cooperation among Arab states in face of current challenges as well as economic, political and social developments.

Counselor Boulos also underlined the importance of constitutional regulations of the judiciary and independence of the judicial authority to guarantee the rights and freedoms of Arab states.

Head of the Arab Constitutional Councils and Courts Union Counselor Hisham El Tal, who is also head of the Jordanian Constitutional Court, Head of the Higher Iraqi Court Jassim Mohammed Aboud as well as a galaxy of Arab and African judges are attending the conference.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

The Foreign Ministry has hosted a meeting of the third group of sub-committees of the Egyptian-European partnership agreement on stability and social development.

The Foreign ministry said on its Facebook Tuesday that a meeting of the sub-committees for political affairs was also held.

Head of the national bureau for implementing the Egyptian-European partnership Omar Abo Eish led the Egyptian side to the meetings, which were also attended by senior officials of the foreign ministry and representatives of Egyptian ministries and authorities while the European side was chaired by Karl Hallergard, Director for North Africa, the Middle East, Arabian (MENA) at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Alessio Cappellani Head of the EU foreign services Division.

The meetings tackled cooperation between Egypt and the European Union as well as the developments of peace process, regional conditions, the Russian-Ukrainian war, terror combat, organized crimes, extremism and illegal migration.

The European side hailed cooperation with Egypt in the development and social affairs.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

The Egyptian naval forces on Tuesday 13/12/2022 took over the command of the Combined Task Force (CTF) 153, which is tasked with combating illegal activities in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden.

Military Spokesman Gharib Abdel-Hafiz said on his official Facebook page that this comes within the framework of efforts made by the Armed Forces, in cooperation with the United States and other countries, to face threats and challenges to security and stability of the region.

The multinational naval partnership, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), has established its fourth international naval task force on April 17. The new Combined Task Force (CTF) 153 aims to enhance maritime security in the Red Sea region.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Senate Speaker Counselor Abdel Wahab Abdel Raziq conferred on Tuesday 13/12/2022 with Chinese Ambassador in Cairo Liao Liqiang on means of bolstering historical ties binding the two countries for the best interests of the two peoples.

During the meeting, the Egyptian speaker said that the Egyptian people are highly appreciating the Chinese leadership and people in view of their positive stances regarding various issues esspecially the Egyptian ones,

He also commended the prominent role of China in achieving leap in the development process, highlighting the excellent coordination between the two countries during the coronavirus pandemic and China’s support to Egypt with the coronavirus vaccines.

Counselor Abdel Wahab also underlined China’s backing of the Palestinian issue at international fora, noting that the China-Arab States Summit, which was recently held in Riyadh, came at a proper timing and will have a positive impact on the Arab and Chinese peoples.

The Chinese diplomat, on his part, praised the achievements he witnessed in Egypt during the era of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, noting that Egypt is proceeding on the right track as a regional and international force.

He also pointed out to the resolve of the two countries’ political leaders to promote bilateral ties to the highest levels, praising the role of the two countries’ parliaments in this regard.

The diplomat also suggested establishing a parliamentary friendship society to exchange expertise and address the two peoples’ interests. Meanwhile, the Egyptian speaker greatly welcomed the idea.

Source: State Information Service Egypt