Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s commitment to sharing its development expertise and providing comprehensive support to Zambia to bolster the capabilities of its workforce in key sectors. This effort will also focus on improving the efficiency of Zambian state institutions.
In a joint press conference with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema at Al-Ittihadiya Palace on Monday, Al-Sisi outlined their agreement to strengthen bilateral ties through enhanced political consultations and fostering mutual investments, particularly in agriculture, fish farming, and infrastructure.
The two leaders also addressed several regional and international issues of shared concern, including the situations in Gaza and Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Horn of Africa, Red Sea security, and water security.
Al-Sisi expressed Egypt’s readiness to invest in the strategic Lobito Corridor project, aiming to stimulate greater participation from both public and private Egyptian sectors in various Zambian investment ventures. This initiative is also designed to strengthen ties between the business communities of the two nations, particularly in light of the ongoing Egyptian-Zambian Business Forum in Cairo.
Furthermore, the Egyptian president stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to advance African priorities on the global stage, particularly concerning development challenges such as poverty, the debt crisis, and climate change. Both leaders agreed to work together on reforms within continental organizations to make them more responsive to the needs of the African people. They also highlighted the importance of leveraging frameworks like the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), the COMESA Agreement, and the Tripartite Free Trade Area to foster regional integration.
For his part, President Hichilema praised Al-Sisi’s leadership and Egypt’s development model, specifically citing the new administrative capital as a testament to Egypt’s forward-thinking vision and the effective role of the private sector in the country’s growth.
Hichilema also underscored the importance of implementing the memoranda of understanding signed during the visit, with a particular focus on agriculture and water security. He noted that Zambia faces challenges related to hosting refugees from neighboring countries affected by regional conflicts, and he commended Egypt’s treatment of refugees as honored guests.
