Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Witnesses the Signing of the Agreement to Implement the 2nd Phase of the Egyptian-German Center for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration Project (EGC)

"Al-Mashat": The project strengthens the implementation of the National Strategy to Combat Irregular Migration.

Investing in human capital is a key priority in the government's program to promote economic development.

The center provides numerous training programs to reintegrate returnees into society.

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and Ambassador Jürgen Schulz, the German Ambassador to Egypt, witnessed the signing of the agreement for the second phase of the "Egyptian-German Center for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration" project.

 

The agreement was signed by Ambassador Nabil Habshi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Migration and Egyptian Abroad Affairs, and Dr. Regine Qualmann, GIZ Egypt Country Director of the German Agency for International Cooperation, in the presence of Anne Kofoed, Head of the Social Integration, Governance, and Migration Section of the EU Delegation in Egypt.

In H.E.’s speech, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat emphasized that the Egyptian-German Center for Jobs, Migration, and Reintegration is one of the key areas of cooperation between the Arab Republic of Egypt, the European Union, and Germany. It represents an important step towards achieving common developmental goals. The Minister highlighted Egypt's close partnership with Germany, both through bilateral cooperation and debt-for-development swaps, noting that in late 2024, a debt swap agreement was signed to enhance the resilience of populations affected by crises and the communities hosting them, worth 29 million euros.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat also pointed out the strategic partnership with the European Union, with migration being one of the key areas of collaboration.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat explained that the center, established in 2020, is the first of its kind in Egypt. It aims to effectively support Egypt's youth by guiding them toward training and employment opportunities, helping to reduce irregular migration. It also assists Egyptians returning from abroad in reintegrating into society by providing all the necessary social and economic services to help them resume their lives in a normal and productive manner.

The Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation stressed that this project aligns with the government's objectives in the area of human capital development, which is a core pillar of Egypt's Vision 2030. The project aims to prepare young people for the labor market through specialized training courses in various priority sectors. This approach is in line with government strategies to enhance the capabilities of youth and equip them with the tools necessary for success in their professional lives.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat pointed out that through these efforts, the government aims to provide effective solutions to the challenges related to irregular migration by building the capacities of Egyptian youth, as well as offering continuous support to local communities. At the same time, this project serves as a launchpad for increasing investments in the development of youth, providing them with the knowledge required to meet the demands of the labor market in vital sectors such as education, health, technology, and innovation.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat noted that this project is one of the prominent examples of fruitful cooperation between the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the European Union. She pointed out that several programs aimed at reducing irregular migration are being implemented, including the joint migration program between the Egyptian government, the UN, and the EU. This program is implemented through the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO), under the framework of the "Joint Platform for Migrants and Refugees." This platform was established in November 2021 to better identify the needs of migrants and refugees and respond to them, as well as enhance coordination among all relevant stakeholders in Egypt to provide a comprehensive and effective response to these groups.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat also discussed the initiatives launched by the government to address irregular migration, including the "National Strategy to Combat Irregular Migration" for the period 2016-2026, developed in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration. This strategy was designed in parallel with Egypt's Vision 2030 and contributes significantly to achieving the SDGs and enhancing the government's ability to manage migration effectively. The strategy aims to make positive use of migration by enhancing economic and social opportunities for migrants and ensuring the protection of the most vulnerable groups in Egypt.

In this context, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat mentioned the launch of the second version of the "National Survey on International Migration of Households in Egypt," in cooperation with the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the European Union (EU). This survey is an important step in deepening the understanding of the patterns and structures of international migration in Egypt and identifying the impact of these patterns on various segments of Egyptian society.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat reaffirmed that the Egyptian government is firmly committed to enhancing human development, supporting these efforts through fruitful cooperation with a number of international partners, including the UN, the WB, the EU, USA, Germany, China, and other multilateral and bilateral partners. This demonstrates that economic development can only be achieved through investment in people and empowering them to actively contribute to sustainable development.