Akram Mohamed Galal, Governor of Ismailia met on Wednesday with Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, the European Union’s envoy to Egypt and the Arab League, to discuss enhancing cooperation in areas of renewable energy, agriculture, and foreign investment.
The meeting, held at the governorate’s historic headquarters on Mohamed Ali Street, was also attended by Deputy Governor Eng. Ahmed Essam El-Din and Marwa Kamel, Director of External Relations at the governorate.
The visit comes within the framework of strengthening collaboration between the European Union and Ismailia Governorate. Talks focused on the potential for solar power generation projects, following successful implementations in other Egyptian governorates such as Aswan, Luxor, Beni Suef, and Fayoum. Opportunities in agricultural investment and food processing industries were also high on the agenda.
Governor Galal welcomed the ambassador and her delegation, noting that Ismailia is one of Egypt’s most vital agricultural hubs, renowned for producing high-quality crops such as mangoes, oranges, strawberries, peanuts, and sesame. He emphasized the governorate's commitment to supporting both local and international investors by providing a favorable investment climate and facilitating administrative processes, thereby contributing to job creation and economic growth.
He also highlighted Ismailia’s key investment assets, including a general free zone, three industrial zones, the largest ready-made garments factory in Egypt, the leading sportswear manufacturing facility, and several medical supplies factories. Galal pointed to the proximity of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) in West and East Qantara, which continues to attract significant industrial investments.
The governor further showcased human development achievements in the governorate, including the launch of the "Training for Employment" initiative last year. The program aims to align technical education outputs with the labor market by providing hands-on training inside factories and companies. This initiative, he noted, reflects Egypt’s Vision 2030 strategy, particularly in building human capital and empowering youth.
He also touched on national efforts to support the agricultural and industrial sectors, including government incentives for investors and the advancement of the healthcare system through the Universal Health Insurance Scheme, which was piloted in Ismailia.
In addition to economic and development projects, Governor Galal highlighted Ismailia’s rich cultural scene and its series of annual festivals, including the Ismailia Mango Festival, Spring Festival, Princesses of Strawberries, International Festival for Folk Arts, Short and Documentary Film Festival, Camel Racing Festival, and the Simsimiya Music Gathering, especially significant after the traditional Simsimiya instrument was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Ambassador Eichhorst expressed appreciation for the warm reception and reaffirmed the EU’s strategic partnership with Egypt, noting that the European Union is Egypt’s largest trading partner and the leading foreign investor in the country. She emphasized the EU’s commitment to strengthening ties with Egypt, particularly in navigating shared geopolitical and developmental challenges.
The visit concluded with Governor Galal presenting a commemorative gift to the EU Ambassador in recognition of her efforts in promoting cooperation and mutual understanding between the two sides.
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