The first Cairo International Forum for Reconstruction Partners was kicked off on Thursday, under the patronage of the Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, to contribute to setting the initial steps of Egyptian companies towards the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
Dozens of high-profile figures attended the event such as Ambassador of the State of Palestine in Cairo and its permanent representative to the League of Arab States Diab Al-Louh.
The first day of the forum witnessed the participation of a number of officials and public figures, including Dr. Thapilo Machika, Minister of Utilities and Urban Development of the Republic of Botswana, Bye Lamine Job, Minister of Land, Labor and Infrastructure of the Republic of The Gambia, Hani Mahmoud, Advisor to the Egyptian Prime Minister, Eng. Fathallah Fawzy, Deputy of the Egyptian Businessmen Association, d. Sherif El-Gabaly, Dr. Ahmed Al-Sijini, Chairman of the Local Administration Committee in the House of Representatives, d. Sahar Attia, Member of Parliament, Dalia El-Saadani, Member of Parliament, and Amr Darwish, Member of Parliament.
In his speech at the opening session, Palestinian Ambassador Al-Louh said that the Gaza badly needs help and initiatives and words that must be turned into actions on the ground.
He also welcomed the participation of Egyptian companies in the reconstruction of Gaza, and said: “What Egypt has witnessed in the giant renaissance in recent years under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is the greatest evidence of the ability of these companies to play a successful, effective and rapid role in the reconstruction of Gaza.”
He hoped that the forum will contribute to reviving the construction sector and reducing unemployment rate which is more than 50 percent in the Gaza Strip currently.
The Palestinian Ambassador hailed all efforts made to rebuild Gaza, and the keenness of the Palestinian government and leadership to make these efforts a success, to cooperate with donor and funder countries, and to ensure that the reconstruction funds go exclusively to the reconstruction track, pointing out that “we do not want to pump any money into the treasury of the Palestinian Authority or any other Palestinian party; rather the reconstruction money goes to reconstruction only.”
Moreover, he praised the urgent Egyptian initiative and the other contributing countries with the Palestinian National Authority government to limit the damage, develop engineering plans, and direct the implementation of reconstruction and investment in the summer and accomplish what can be accomplished before winter.
The Ambassador of the State of Palestine also conveyed the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas, the leadership, the factions and the Palestinian people, with thanks and gratitude to President Sisi and to the big sister Egypt, the government, leadership, army, sovereign bodies and people for all the historical and political support it provided to the struggling Palestinian people and their just national cause.
He also appreciated Egypt for its initiative to intervene urgently from the first moment to stop the brutal Israeli aggression against people in Gaza thanks for the medical and humanitarian aid it provided after its success in stopping the aggression.
At the conclusion of the opening session, Al-Louh was honored with the forum's shield in appreciation of his great efforts and diplomatic and political communication.
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