Al-Mashat, JICA's New Representative Discuss Future Development Plans for Egypt

Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Ebisawa Yu, the newly appointed Head Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) office in Egypt, in the presence of Mr. Kato Ken, the former representative. The meeting focused on strengthening Egypt-Japan cooperation and exploring new avenues for future partnership.

At the start of the meeting, Minister Al-Mashat expressed gratitude to Mr. Kato Ken for his exceptional leadership during his tenure at JICA Egypt, acknowledging his role in advancing major bilateral projects in sectors such as education, healthcare, transportation, and economic development. She also welcomed Mr. Ebisawa Yu, extending her best wishes for his new role and expressing confidence in his ability to further elevate the Egypt-Japan partnership.

Reaffirming the strong ties between Egypt and Japan, Minister Al-Mashat highlighted the depth of collaboration in bilateral and multilateral development initiatives. She emphasized the Egyptian government’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Japan to align with Egypt’s strategic development priorities. Over the years, the two countries have successfully launched transformative projects in key sectors, reinforcing their shared vision for sustainable growth and economic integration.

Among the notable achievements under Japan’s cooperation with Egypt are financing for universal health coverage, funding for the fourth phase of the Cairo Metro, a development grant for the Egyptian Opera House, and a program supporting economic and social development in agriculture. JICA has also played a vital role in private sector support, particularly in energy projects, contributing to initiatives such as the 500 MW solar power plant in Kom Ombo, Aswan, and the onshore wind farm project in Ras Ghareb under the "NWFE" program.

Minister Al-Mashat noted that Egypt and Japan have successfully executed long-term flagship projects with lasting economic and social impact. These include the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), the Universal Health Insurance project, the Cairo University Children's Specialized Hospital Annex (Abu El Reesh), and the Cairo Metro’s fourth line (Phase I). She emphasized that Egypt seeks to build on this foundation by continuing to expand cooperation in areas such as technology, artificial intelligence, digital entrepreneurship, and industrial localization.

A key focus of future cooperation will be strengthening private sector investment mechanisms, enhancing scientific research and innovation, and leveraging Japanese expertise in artificial intelligence and infrastructure modernization. Minister Al-Mashat reaffirmed the importance of ongoing collaboration between JICA and Egyptian ministries, particularly in education, healthcare, and transport, to ensure sustainable and inclusive development.

Looking ahead, Minister Al-Mashat announced plans for the joint declaration of the "Egypt-Japan Cooperation Strategy", along with the publication of a comprehensive report on Egypt-Japan cooperation at the upcoming Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). She also confirmed that discussions are underway for financing the fourth batch of the Cairo Metro’s fourth line (Phase I), underscoring the critical role of Japanese investment in Egypt’s infrastructure projects.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Minister Al-Mashat reaffirmed Egypt’s deep appreciation for Japan’s ongoing support, highlighting the mutual respect and shared ambitions that define their partnership. She expressed Egypt’s commitment to expanding collaboration with Japan, ensuring that the relationship continues to evolve in ways that align with the development priorities of both nations.