Minister of Planning and Japanese ambassador in Cairo discuss aspects of cooperation

Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr.Hala El-Said, received recently Noki Masaki, the Japanese ambassador in Cairo, and his accompanying delegation, to discuss aspects of cooperation between the two parties. The meeting was attended by Ayman Soliman, Executive Director of The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE).At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. El-Said welcomed the visit of the Japanese ambassador and his accompanying delegation to the headquarters of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, stressing that it is an opportunity to discuss aspects of cooperation between Egypt and Japan, especially in light of the strong strategic and investment relations between the two sides.During the meeting, El-Said reviewed the latest developments and reforms undertaken by the Egyptian government in the field of economic development and the dimensions of the Egyptian development experience, noting that the poverty rate decreased for the first time in twenty years according to the results of the income, expenditure and consumption research of 2019/20 that was announced at the beginning of this month. She also referred to the attention paid by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to support the neediest groups and villages, and the state's implementation of social protection programs.El-Said stressed that the government's implementation of many reforms through the first phase of the national program for economic and social reform since November 2016 has led to the achievement of macro stability and comprehensive growth, which was reflected in the positive indicators witnessed by the Egyptian economy during the year 2019/20 and before the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis.The minister indicated during the meeting that in light of the environmental changes taking place in the world and the country's interest in sustainable development and the trend towards a green economy following Vision 2030, the government has adopted a national strategy for the transition to a green economy, and work is underway to achieve 30% of investment projects in the state’s plans for the concepts of environmental sustainability and the green economy, while the percentage will rise to 100% in the next three years.El-Said explained the importance of enhancing the benefit of national cadres from the specialized training courses offered by the Japanese Cooperation Authority (JICA), especially in the areas of planning and economic development, during which coordination can take place with the National Planning Institute and the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, in light of the Egyptian government's interest in raising the efficiency of the human element.The minister praised the support provided by Japan to Egypt in its efforts to join the country program of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), including the program's multiple axes, the most important of which is science, technology, and innovation, in which the Japanese side can contribute with its extensive experience in this the field.For his part, the Japanese ambassador expressed his appreciation for the meeting with the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, congratulating her on obtaining the Government Excellence Award as the best Arab minister, and affirming his country's keenness to enhance cooperation with Egypt in all fields.