Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Al-Mashat Meets OECD Secretary General, Bezos Earth Fund Officials


Sun 29 May 2022 | 01:46 PM
Rana Atef

The Minister of International Cooperation Dr. Rania Al-Mashat met with the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Mathias Cormann, as part of her bilateral meetings during the 2022 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. They discussed cooperation opportunities between the Government of Egypt and the OECD in COP27 preparations.

Al-Mashat stressed the importance of strengthening joint work with all international partners to exchange knowledge and expertise and to advance global efforts on climate action.

The minister explained that in order to accelerate progress on the climate agenda and enhance financing for developing and emerging economies, it is necessary to strengthen innovative financing frameworks such as blended finance, to stimulate private sector participation in development.

The minister added that Egypt has experience in conducting cooperation studies with the OECD, as in 2020, they measured the impact of the private sector’s contribution to development through international cooperation, and available tools to further stimulate its participation.

Al-Mashat said that Egypt has experience in conducting studies in cooperation with the OECD during the year 2020 to measure the impact of the private sector's contribution to development through international cooperation, and to study solutions and tools available to push and stimulate its contribution.

They also discussed the OECD’s participation in the second edition of the Egypt - International Cooperation Forum in September.

In the forum's first edition last year, the OECD, Ministry of International Cooperation, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) participated in organizing a workshop on “Triangular Cooperation with Africa”.

The OECD’s Secretary-General emphasized the institution's keenness to enhance cooperation with the Government of Egypt within the framework of the COP27; working to promote the green transformation.

Also during the WEF’s 2020 Annual Meeting, Al-Mashat met with the President of the Bezos Earth Fund, Andrew Steer, and with the Executive Director of the Education Commission, Liesbet Steer. They discussed aspects of joint cooperation within the framework of the COP27.

Al-Mashat elaborated the importance of enhancing private sector engagement in supporting development efforts and public-private partnerships, and the need for cooperation with international institutions and civil society to support urban transformation efforts, and mobilizing innovative financing to bridge financing gaps.

It is important to note that the Bezos Earth Fund has supported climate change in this decade with nearly $10 billion.

The minister stressed the importance of the fund’s role in promoting global efforts aimed at promoting climate action, through technical support and financing, and increasing green investments, in a way that stimulates the global green transformation.

She noted that the Government of Egypt welcomes cooperation with all entities in order to advance climate action globally and regionally, in light of the COP27.

In the meeting with the Executive Director of the Education Commission, Liesbet Steer, an international initiative addressing SDG 4: Quality Education, while also promoting investments in the education field, Al-Mashat shared that investment in human capital and modern technologies is key for better education.

Al-Mashat participated in the 2022 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, under the title “History at a Turning Point: Government Policies & Business Strategies” until Thursday.

Being physically held for the first time since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, this event witnesses the participation of over 2,500 leaders, decision-makers, and international institutions.

The forum’s activities cover eight main themes: climate and nature, fairer economies, tech and innovation, jobs and skills, better business, health and healthcare, global cooperation, and society and equity.