The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Egypt, hosted a ceremony at the Egyptian Opera House on 22 February to commemorate 70 years of Egypt-Japan development cooperation.
The event was attended by prominent dignitaries, including Japan’s Ambassador to Egypt, IWAI Fumio, Egypt’s Minister of Education and Technical Education, Mohamed Abd El Latif, and Vice Minister of Social Solidarity, Margrit Sarofum. Other high-ranking officials, such as Ahmed Shahin, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, and Ahmed El Sobky, Chairperson of the Egypt Healthcare Authority and Supervisor General of the Universal Health Insurance and Life Dignified projects, were also present.
The ceremony opened with an infographic video that highlighted key milestones of Egypt-Japan collaboration, showcasing the depth of their longstanding partnership. In his opening remarks, Ambassador IWAI Fumio expressed gratitude for the strong ties between the two nations, emphasizing that this anniversary marks a significant achievement in their shared history. Minister Mohamed Abd El Latif reflected on the success of their educational collaboration, noting that he had recently returned from an intensive visit to Japan, where he engaged in discussions to further enhance Egypt’s education system by adopting Japanese expertise.
JICA Egypt’s Chief Representative, KATO Ken, underscored the importance of the partnership by quoting, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” He highlighted how Egypt and Japan have worked together to address critical challenges, aligning JICA’s focus on quality growth and human security with Egypt’s strategic priorities in infrastructure, food security, climate change, human resource development, private sector growth, and industrial localization.
A video message from Rania El Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, reinforced Japan’s vital role in Egypt’s development, emphasizing its support through financial and technical assistance. She pointed to landmark projects such as the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (EJUST), the Universal Health Insurance Project, and Cairo Metro Line 4, all of which reflect the depth of Egyptian-Japanese collaboration over the decades. In her keynote speech, Margrit Sarofum expressed appreciation for Japan’s contributions, particularly in early childhood education through the Egypt-Japan Education Partnership, a pillar of their successful cooperation.
The event also featured a panel discussion titled “Empowerment of Human Capital for Sustainable Industrial Growth.” Moderated by Mayada Magdy, Country Senior Representative for JICA Egypt, the discussion centered on the role of education and industry collaboration in driving economic progress. Panelists included Hany Helal, Secretary-General of the Egypt-Japan Education Partnership and Chairperson of EJUST; Amr Adly, President of EJUST; Rasha Sharaf, Executive Director of the Education Development Fund and EJ KOSEN Project; MURAKAMI Soichi, JICA’s Expert for Investment Promotion at GAFI; Nabil El Mougy, Founder and Shareholder of Saraya Middle East; and TSUNODA Manabu, Chief Advisor of the EJUST Project. The discussion emphasized the necessity of investing in human capital to support sustainable industrial growth, highlighting successful projects and the potential for future cooperation.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, students from Egypt-Japan Schools in Suez delivered a lively dance performance, followed by a Japanese YOSAKOI dance presented by both Japanese and Egyptian students, symbolizing the cultural exchange between the two nations.
In his closing remarks, the newly appointed Chief Representative of JICA Egypt, EBISAWA Yo, praised the enduring partnership between Egypt and Japan, emphasizing that investing in people is the key to progress. He reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to Egypt and expressed his gratitude to his predecessor, KATO Ken, for his efforts over the past three years.
As Egypt and Japan mark seven decades of cooperation, this milestone event reaffirmed their shared commitment to sustainable development, human capital investment, and economic growth, setting the stage for continued collaboration in the years to come.
