Highlights of H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said's meetings & activities during Dubai Cop 28

The participation of H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, at the activities of (COP28), held in the United Arab Emirates during the period from November 30 to December 12, 2023, witnessed extensive presence in several events organized by the Ministry or any other side events for several organizations and entities.

The activities organized by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development during Cop28 included the presence of Dr. Hala El-Said in an event entitled “Aligning climate finance and development to achieve SDGs and accelerate climate action.”

During her speech at the event, El-Said explained that the year 2023 represents great importance as the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda as well as the first “global assessment” of the progress made in the Paris Agreement.

El-Said referred to Egypt's Vision 2030, which sets basic pillars, the most prominent of which is that people are the center of development.

Dr. El-Said also participated at the event held by the Ministry of Planning entitled “The Future of the Decent Life for a Climate Resilient Africa Initiative towards Africa We Want in 2063,” during which she reviewed the success achieved by the “Decent Life” initiative in improving the quality of life of the Egyptian homeland in the countryside.

Moreover, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, represented by the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, hosted in the presence of Dr. Hala El-Said hosted an event entitled “Women’s Participation in Climate Change,”.

During the event, El-Said asserted Egypt’s commitment to defending the issues of climate finance and women’s empowerment, through its multifaceted initiatives.

“The Egyptian government leads the transformation process towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all Egyptians and Egyptian women” She added.

The Minister of Planning also participated in several side events, including the event organized by the Global Green Growth Institute under the title “Scaling-up Agriculture and Food Systems for Economic Development” (SAFE) initiative, in which she stressed that Africa and the Middle East are among the regions suffering from of the negative impacts resulting from climate change.

Similarly, El-Said participated in a side event entitled “IOE Panel on the Just Transition Work Program,” which was held by the International Organization of Employers, where she stressed that Egypt is guided by the principle of building a comprehensive and sustainable future for future generations, as evidenced by the state’s commitment to stimulating private sector investments in Green sectors.

El-Said also participated in the high-level discussion session of the Arab Women Leadership Summit, which was hosted by the Presidency of the Cop28 in cooperation with the WISER Foundation, on “Integrating Gender and Climate Change: Advancing Equality for a Resilient Future,” where she stressed during her speech that the Egyptian government has taken serious steps to promote gender equality. and climate action.

  Egypt's Vision 2030 recognizes the importance of women's participation in sustainable development and climate action.

The Egyptian government has launched several initiatives to empower women economically and socially, including the National Strategy for Empowering Egyptian Women 2030, according to El-Said.

The Minister’s participation in the upcoming events included the event organized by PepsiCo in cooperation with the Arab League entitled “Unlocking Opportunities in the Middle East: Transitioning to Renewable Energy,” in which she explained that the transition to renewable energy is not just an environmental necessity, but rather a strategic opportunity for the Middle East to create A diversified economy and creating new job opportunities.

In the same context, El-Said pointed out that green hydrogen, which is produced using renewable energy sources, provides a clean, versatile fuel that can be used in various applications, from transportation and power generation to industrial processes.

Side Meetings 

On the sidelines of her participation in Cop28, El-Said held a series of bilateral meetings to discuss ways of cooperation, where she met with Dr. Frank Rijspermann, Director General of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), during the meeting she referred to the issue of water, which is closely linked to the issue of climate change.

  El-Said explained that Egypt is working hard to put the water issue at the top of its priorities, stressing that changing weather patterns and drought caused by climate change have major impacts on water security.

El-Said also met with Mr. Steve Lutz, Vice President for Middle East Affairs at the American Chamber of Commerce, where she stressed during the meeting the Egyptian state’s keenness to support green transformation in various fields, and the importance of finance and technology in the field of development.

The Minister of Planning met with Mr. Mark Hutchinson, CEO, of Fortescue Future Industries, and Mr. Moataz Qandil, Regional President of Fortescue Future Industries in MENA, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in the field of green energy.

Dr. El-Said also met with Mr. Darius Adamczyk Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Honeywell International.

During the aforementioned meeting, El-Said stressed the Egyptian state’s keenness to cooperate with the private sector.

She further referred to the role of The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) in attracting investments, increasing the participation of the local and foreign private sector in the economy, and maximizing the return on assets.

The Minister of Planning and Economic Development concluded her series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of Cop28, by meeting with Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP's Regional Bureau for Africa, to discuss ways of cooperation, especially about the “Decent Life for a Climate Resilient Africa Initiative, and how to move forward with this initiative.

On the sidelines of Cop 28, El-Said greeted the owners of the winning projects in the second session of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects participating in Cop 28.

She congratulated them on winning with their innovative projects that provide creative solutions to deal with the challenges of climate change.