Latest news with #El-Shemy
Al-Ahram Weekly
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
INTERVIEW: Egypt and Indonesia deepen strategic ties: Egypt Ambassador to Indonesia - Foreign Affairs
Egypt's Ambassador to Indonesia, Yasser El-Shemy, illuminated the significance of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's second official visit to Egypt, slated for 12 April. In an interview with Ahram Online, El-Shemy underscored the robust and historical ties between Egypt and Indonesia. "This second visit of Indonesian President Prabowo Subiantoa to Cairo intervenes as bilateral relations between the two countries continue to develop. This year, the two countries will celebrate the 78th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations,' El-Shemy noted. Subianto's first visit to Cairo in December 2024 included productive discussions with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, during which both leaders affirmed their intention to elevate cooperation across multiple sectors and reinforce the historical friendship between their nations. "During their meeting in December, the two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in many areas, including trade, food security, energy, defence, education, culture, and regional peace,' he added. Despite the geographic distance, El-Shemy emphasized that Egypt and Indonesia share deep-rooted historical, cultural, political, and economic ties, with both countries showing a shared dedication to cultural preservation, development, and regional peace. Shared position on Palestine "The Palestinian issue occupies a significant part of Egyptian-Indonesian relations. Indonesia values Egypt's pivotal role in the Middle East as a leader of peace and stability in the region and deeply appreciates Egypt's tireless efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, ensure safe, unhindered access to humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, and begin reconstruction," explained El-Shemy "In this regard, Indonesia expressed its appreciation for Egypt's leading role in facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Indonesia also supports the Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of Gaza and affirmed its willingness to work with Egypt on this matter," he continued. Ambassador El-Shemy said that both countries agreed to reject unilateral Israeli practices that create a new reality on the ground - in addition to being a violation of Israel's international obligations - undermining the two-state solution, which peace-loving countries still consider the only solution to end the conflict. They also emphasized the inevitability of establishing an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967, lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He noted that both countries firmly reject the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, the occupied West Bank, or East Jerusalem. They also condemned ongoing Israeli settlement expansion, settler violence, home demolitions, and incursions into Palestinian cities, as well as actions that threaten the legal and historical status of holy sites in Jerusalem. Strenghtening economic ties Ambassador El-Shemy highlighted the remarkable growth in economic relations, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $1.5 billion annually. He noted that Egypt has invested in nearly 100 projects in Indonesia, including several led by major Egyptian companies in energy and infrastructure. During President Subianto's first visit, an agreement was reached to expand trade and investment, particularly in palm oil, fertilizers, renewable energy, agricultural commodities, the digital economy, infrastructure, and transport. El-Shemy highlighted that Egypt is considered a gateway for Indonesian products to both the Euro-Mediterranean and African markets, and Indonesia is considered a hub for Egyptian products to access the markets of the ASEAN region. El-Shemy pointed to several institutional frameworks supporting bilateral cooperation, including the Joint High Committee—co-chaired by the foreign ministers of both nations—with its next session scheduled in Cairo this year. He also referenced ongoing bilateral consultations at the level of assistant foreign ministers and the Joint Trade Committee, which last convened in July 2024. Multilateral cooperation The ambassador also emphasized strong multilateral coordination between Egypt and Indonesia, particularly in advocating for the Palestinian cause. He highlighted their joint work within the Arab and Islamic Ministerial Committee on Gaza, which last met in Cairo in March 2024. Both countries are also aligned on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts and cooperate in advocating for nuclear-weapon-free zones through relevant international frameworks. Additionally, they actively exchange support for their respective candidates in international organizations. Growing Relations Relations between the two countries are long-standing and deeply rooted, even before their independence from colonialism. The two countries have enjoyed excellent bilateral relations throughout history, beginning in their modern phase at the popular level in the seventeenth century and spanning several governments of national independence leaders, most notably the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser and Indonesian President Sukarno, with regard to the Non-Aligned Movement. Modern relations also serve as a model for coordinating positions on issues of common interest at the regional and international levels, particularly with regard to the situation in the Middle East and the Palestinian issue. The leaders of the two countries are keen to develop bilateral cooperation in a manner befitting both countries, especially given their great potential, to reach the level of a full strategic partnership, whether in the political, economic, commercial, military, or cultural fields. Economic Prospects There are significant opportunities for cooperation between the two countries. Indonesia has a population of over 280 million, while Egypt has a population of over 110 million. This creates significant economic opportunities that can be exploited between the two countries. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral relations in the fields of trade, investment, manufacturing, information and communications technology, food security, and renewable energy during their first meeting last December. They also agreed to establish a high-level joint committee under the joint supervision of the two countries' leaderships, leading to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The volume of trade between the two countries is considered the largest in Africa and the third largest in the Middle East. Cultural & scientific cooperation Egypt and Indonesia enjoy very special cultural and educational ties, clearly demonstrated by the special status Al-Azhar holds in the hearts and minds of the Indonesian people, a status that dates back centuries and spans generations. Al-Azhar annually provides hundreds of scholarships to Indonesian students to study in Egypt, with approximately 15,000 currently enrolled Indonesians studying at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. Al-Azhar also sends approximately 40 of its scholars to Indonesia each year. The Egyptian political leadership has expressed its willingness to increase these numbers as appropriate, based on preserving the moderate approach of Islam and spreading a culture of moderation and tolerance. For its part, Indonesia appreciates the educational opportunities provided to its students over the past years at Egyptian universities, particularly at Al-Azhar University. These opportunities have had a positive impact on Indonesian society and contribute to the dissemination of moderate Islamic thought. This was also expressed by Subianto during his last visit, where he expressed his desire to send more Indonesian students to Egypt to study in various fields within the framework of developing cultural and educational cooperation. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily News Egypt
09-02-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Advancing industrial development through modernization, investment: El-Shemy
The Ministry of Public Enterprises Sector is advancing its efforts to develop the industrial sector within its affiliated companies and enhance their performance. Minister Mohamed El-Shemy affirmed that a comprehensive strategy is in place to modernize factories with advanced technology, revive key industries, and introduce new production lines and products. This initiative aims to strengthen production capabilities, enhance competitiveness, and improve the quality of locally manufactured goods to meet global standards. Ultimately, these measures will open new markets and increase exports in alignment with Egypt's Vision 2030 for sustainable development. The ministry's plan emphasizes deepening local manufacturing, replacing imports with domestically produced alternatives, and maximizing the added value of products and raw materials. Operational efficiency is being improved across various sectors, with a strong focus on encouraging both local and foreign investment. Sustainability, occupational safety, and work environment enhancements are key priorities, alongside specialized workforce training to keep pace with global industrial advancements. The public business sector has witnessed remarkable progress in recent years, leveraging its vast assets, capabilities, and economic influence to support national growth. During his speech at the Akhbar El-Youm Economic Conference, El-Shemy highlighted the private sector's crucial role in economic development through its expertise, investment capacity, and ability to drive innovation. He emphasized that public-private cooperation remains the most effective path to achieving sustainable progress. The ministry is actively strengthening partnerships and exploring new opportunities for collaboration in various industries through diverse investment and partnership models. Several public-private partnerships are currently underway, including projects to modernize existing factories with advanced technology, revive specific industries, and introduce new products. Key initiatives include the national project for developing the textile industry, upgrading state-owned pharmaceutical companies, and investing in fertilizers, automotive manufacturing, aluminum, mining, phosphate-based fertilizers, construction, real estate, tourism, and hospitality. The ministry's affiliated companies offer extensive investment opportunities, providing a solid foundation for expansion in industries such as heavy manufacturing, industrial processing, service sectors, renewable energy, and advanced technology. Egypt is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious economic goals under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, with a clear vision for progress, growth, and prosperity. The ministry remains committed to strengthening partnerships with the private sector to drive industrial efficiency, attract further investment, and expand market reach in alignment with national sustainable development objectives, El-Shemy stated. He stressed that with effective collaboration and synergy between the public and private sectors, challenges can be overcome, new opportunities can be seized, and a brighter future can be built for Egypt. Reaffirming this commitment, he emphasized that joint efforts will pave the way for sustained economic success.
Zawya
06-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt's PM reviews ongoing development of public business sector companies
Egypt - Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held a meeting at the government headquarters in the New Administrative Capital with Mohamed El-Shemy, Minister of the Public Enterprises Sector, to review the progress of development initiatives for state-owned companies. In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Madbouly reaffirmed that maximizing the return on state-owned assets remains one of the government's top priorities for fostering economic growth. 'We are dedicated to improving the performance and development of companies and factories under the Ministry of the Public Business Sector,' he stated. During the meeting, Minister El-Shemy provided a comprehensive update on several development projects underway in the sector, starting with the modernization efforts at companies under the Chemical Industries Holding Company. El-Shemy outlined key projects, including the $278.3m and EGP 6.4bn investment in the rehabilitation of the Kima 1 plant, alongside a $53 million upgrade of the Ferrosilicon factory. The Minister also highlighted ongoing developments at the Delta Fertilizers and Chemical Industries Company in Talkha, with an estimated investment of €60 million for Phase 1 and €450m for Phase 2. Additionally, El-Shemy discussed a €13.5 million project to establish an industrial wastewater treatment plant and efforts to develop the fertilizer sector, such as the creation of an ammonia production plant at El Nasr for Fertilizers and Chemical Industries (SEMADCO), which will produce 1,350 tons per day. A green ammonia production plant with a capacity of 1,000 tons per day is also part of the initiative. The Minister further touched on the development of companies within the Holding Company for Metallurgical Industries, including a significant upgrade at El Nasr Automotive. He noted that the investment for Factory 4's production line upgrade is valued at EGP 675m and $3m. The cooperation with the Chinese company Dongfong was also discussed, with trial operations set to begin soon. El-Shemy continued with updates on the ongoing modernization of El Nasr Mining Company, Delta Steel Company, and the Drug Holding Company – HoldiPharma. He also covered the development projects underway within the Holding Company for Tourism and Hotels (HOTAC) and the Holding Company for Construction and Development (HCCD), showcasing the broad scope of reform efforts across the sector. © 2024 Daily News Egypt. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
