2 days ago
Egypt keen on cementing ties with continent: FM Abdelatty to African counterparts - Foreign Affairs
Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty held separate bilateral meetings with several of his African counterparts and African Union senior officials to cement relations, activate bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and enhance trade, investment, and economic ties.
This occurred on the sidelines of the 47th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union.
During the meetings, FM Abdelatty and his African counterparts discussed intensifying cooperation and leveraging the expertise and capabilities of leading Egyptian companies, especially in energy, construction, health, and infrastructure sectors.
They also stressed the importance of coordinating positions in African and international forums and intensifying joint efforts to promote regional integration and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Africa, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ambassador Tamim Khallaf said on Monday.
FM Abdelatty also highlighted Egypt's ongoing efforts to support development in Africa, particularly through the activities of the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD), affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
EAPD aims to support Africa's development aspirations through the provision of capacity-building assistance, the transfer of knowledge, skills, and expertise, and the promotion of creative industries, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said at the 23rd African Union Summit in June 2014.
It also supports and promotes the private sector's trade and investment role in the continent's overall economic development.
Over the years, the agency has contributed to building the capacities of thousands of African professionals and implementing development projects in health, education, agriculture, water, energy, and other fields.
Egypt's top diplomat affirmed Egypt's aspiration to maximize African countries' benefit from the agency's programmes and initiatives as part of its commitment to supporting fellow African nations.
He also underscored Egypt's keenness to deepen South-South cooperation and support continental integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).
Abdelatty further stressed the importance of enhancing joint African action amid the growing challenges facing the continent.
"Egypt will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting development, security, and stability efforts in Africa," he affirmed.
He also reiterated Egypt's steadfast commitment to supporting the continent's priorities, the African Union's Agenda 2063, regional integration, and sustainable development.
Additionally, he emphasized Egypt's support for specialized African institutions, particularly the African Space Agency, affirming readiness to enhance its capabilities, given that Cairo hosts the agency's headquarters.
He also commended the African support for Egypt's candidate for the position of Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Dr. Khaled El-Anany.
"This support reflects the spirit of African solidarity," he said, stressing the importance of unifying the African voice in international forums to ensure Africa's legitimate aspirations are realized and its representation within multilateral organizations is strengthened.
The 47th session of the African Union Executive Council officially opened in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, last Thursday. The two-day meeting focused on financial and administrative governance within the AU.
Discussions centred on budget management, international partnerships, and preparations for key continental and global events, including elections for AU commissioners in education, science and technology, trade, and industry.
This year's meeting, under the AU's 2025 theme: "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations," brought together a select group of African heads of state to coordinate between the AU and regional economic communities.
Follow us on:
Facebook
Instagram
Whatsapp
Short link:
