Egypt, Switzerland Launch Bilateral Cooperation Programme 2021-2024

Minister of International Cooperation H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat launched a cooperation programme between Egypt and Switzerland for 2021-2024.

The launched ceremony was attended by a Swiss high-level delegation, headed by the Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Ambassador Patricia Danzi.

Head of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs’ Economic Cooperation and Development Division, Ambassador Dominique Paravicini; the new Ambassador of Switzerland to Egypt, Ms. Yvonne Baumann; and a number of officials, had also participated.

This came in light of the Ministry of International Cooperation’s endeavors to consolidate economic relations with bilateral and multilateral development partners and to set future cooperation plans to push forward Egypt’s Vision 2030, which also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).

Launching the new bilateral cooperation programme between both countries came within the framework of the Swiss delegation’s visit to Egypt on 1-5 November, where they met with several officials, and visited a score of projects that Switzerland contributes in providing development financing to, across sectors of infrastructure, solid waste management; supporting Egypt’s green and inclusive growth.

Al-Mashat praised the strategic Egyptian-Swiss relations in development cooperation, which extends for more than four decades and resulted in many partnership agreements and projects across fields of private sector’s engagement, women empowerment, and gender equality, green transition, inclusive and sustainable urban development, and empowering the youth by tapping on their potential and skills and providing job opportunities as well as improving business environments.

She noted that the new cooperation programme with Switzerland comes within the government’s unremitting efforts to implement inclusive economic and social reforms, with the aim of scaling up the Egyptian economy’s competitiveness; achieving sustainable development; and instilling regional leadership in the transition towards a green economy, as well as in combating climate change.

During the launch ceremony, Al-Mashat presented three key principles of the Ministry of International Cooperation’s doctrine of Economic Diplomacy.

The Ministry seeks to develop and strengthen relations with multilateral and bilateral development partners, were as follows:

• The regular organization of Multi-Stakeholder Platforms to ensure that all projects between development partners are streamlined and effectively aligned with the national agenda and the SDGs.
• The mapping of the Official Development Assistance to the SDGs for all projects with multilateral and bilateral development partners.
• The adoption of a consistent Global Partnerships Narrative that puts People at the Core, through Projects in Action, with Purpose as the Driver.

During her recorded speech, Swiss State Secretary of Economic Affairs, Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, expressed her pride in the long-term cooperation between Egypt and Switzerland.

She also applauded the results achieved so far and expressed her aspiration to further cooperation through the new cooperation programme, towards achieving common goals.

For her part, the Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Ambassador Patricia Danzi, stated that the cooperation with Egypt comes within the priorities of Switzerland’s strategy for international cooperation in the Middle East and North Africa 2021-2024.

She added that Egypt plays a pivotal role in the region and is Switzerland’s key partner in the Southern Mediterranean.

Ambassador Paravicini noted that within the framework of the new cooperation programme 2021-2024, Switzerland works to support the Government of Egypt in the transition towards a green economy and to adapt to climate change, through providing innovative contributions across sectors of clean energy, green financing, supporting macro reforms in Egypt’s economy, and achieving development and improving business environment.

Last year, Al-Mashat had held meetings with several officials from Switzerland, including the Federal Adviser, the Minister of State for Swiss Economic Affairs, representatives of the business ecosystem, and the Swiss Ambassador, to discuss the development of bilateral relations between both countries.

The partnership between Egypt and Switzerland extends for more than 40 years, during which the Swiss side contributed with more than 700 million Swiss francs to finance the implementation of more than 200 projects in various sectors.

The ongoing development cooperation portfolio between Egypt and Switzerland amounts to $58 million to finance 7 projects in the fields of industry, urban development, water, housing, waste management, communications, and health.

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