Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat met with an International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) mission that is visiting Egypt from 15 to 19 March on Saturday.
The mission includes Jyotsna Puri, the Associate Vice President of the Strategy and Knowledge Department at the IFAD; Dina Saleh, the Regional Director of the Near East, North Africa, and Europe Division in the IFAD; and Mohamed Al-Ghazaly, the IFAD’s Country Programme Officer in Egypt.
The two sides discussed opportunities for coordination and cooperation with the IFAD within the framework of Egypt’s hosting of the Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP 27) in Sharm El-Sheikh this November and discussed the position of the Development Cooperation Programme with the fund and the projects being implemented with finances provided by the IFAD.
Al-Mashat emphasised the value of the current partnership between Egypt and the IFAD and expressed her keenness for further effective cooperation to ensure the achievement of the desired results from development projects and the implementation of the sustainable development goals within the framework of Egypt’s 2030 Vision and to finance more projects that are reflected in the development of the agricultural sector and the enhancement of livelihoods for citizens in the regions.
She also indicated the country’s keenness to enhance cooperation with the fund through the delegation’s new financing tools.
Furthermore, the minister stressed the vital role the private sector plays in achieving sustainable development, as it is a major partner for the government in all aspects of development, which enhances the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy.
On her part, Puri expressed her appreciation for the fruitful cooperation between the two sides and praised the positive growth achieved by the Egyptian economy over the past years, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, given that Egypt was one of the few countries that succeeded in achieving positive growth during the pandemic thanks to the economic and structural reforms that were implemented.
She also praised the success of organising the first edition of the Egypt Forum for International Cooperation and Development Finance last September, pointing out that the fund values its extended relationship with the Egyptian government, which — since 1977 — has resulted in the financing of 14 projects that benefited about 7 million residents in rural areas.
Moreover, Puri indicated the fund’s interest in cooperating with the government in preparing for organising and hosting the COP 27 through technical cooperation and accumulated experiences.
