Egypt hosts very high-level event: “Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC): ‘Egypt the future’”

Cairo, 16 March 2015. A high-level delegation from the UfM Secretariat, led by UfM Secretary General Fathallah Sijilmassi and accompanied by his Political Advisor Amb. Ihab Fahmy, participated in the Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC). The event was hosted by the Egyptian President, H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Sharm El-Sheikh from 13-15 March 2015.

The conference presented investment opportunities to domestic and international investors across key sectors. The conference was also an excellent opportunity to update the UfM Secretariat on the Egyptian government’s priorities in different fields and to identify areas for cooperation.

On the margin of the conference, UfM Secretary General Sijilmassi held more than 25 bilateral meetings. He met with Egypt’s Prime Minister H.E. Eng. Ibrahim Mahlab and also held talks with H.E. Mr Sameh Shoukry, Egypt’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, with whom he discussed ways to strengthen the UfM. They also exchanged views on the current situation in the region, taking into consideration Egypt’s key strategic role at regional and international levels, and the potential for enhancing further cooperation with Egypt in UfM projects and activities. The UfM Secretary General confirmed the UfM Secretariat’s commitment to supporting Egypt to face current challenges, especially socio-economic ones.

Secretary General Sijilmassi held further bilateral meetings with their Excellencies Dr Naglaa El-Ehwany, Minister for International Cooperation; Dr Ashraf El-Araby, Minister for Planning and Administrative Reform; Dr Mohamed Shaker, Minister for Electricity and Renewable Energy; Eng. Hany Dahy, Minister for Transport; and Dr Hany Kadry Dimian, Minister for Finance. He also met with Ms Faiza Abou El-Naga, National Security Advisor to the President of Egypt.

As for the business community, Secretary General Sijilmassi met with Mr Mohamed Farid Khamis, Chairman of the Egyptian Federation of Investors Associations (EFIA) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the British University in Egypt (BUE). A Memorandum of Understanding was initialled during the meeting with the aim of strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest, especially higher education and research, training and employment. Further meetings were held with leading representatives of the Egyptian business community.

Furthermore, Secretary General Sijilmassi met with H.E. Mr Abdelmalek Sellal, Prime Minister of Algeria; H.E. Mr Paulo Portas, Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal; H.E. Mr José Manuel Soria, Minister for Industry, Energy and Tourism of Spain; H.E. Mr Mohamed Boussaid, Minister for Economy and Finance of Morocco; H.E. Ms Maja Fjaestad, State Secretary at the Swedish Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Christian Danielsson, Director General for Enlargement at the European Commission; Mr Li Yong, UNIDO Director General; Sir Suma Chakrabarti, President of the EBRD; Mr Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the EIB; H.E. Mr Amr Moussa; Mr Hafez Ghanem, Vice-President of the World Bank Group for the Middle East and North Africa; and the Director General of International Affairs of the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti.