Dr. Rania Al-Mashat: Egyptian-Lebanese Partnership in Economic Policy-Making, Development, and Exchange of Expertise in the Fields of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation.

Egypt strengthens cooperation with Lebanon, in preparing National Reports, the Integrated System for Planning and Follow-up, and raising the efficiency of public investment.

 

Partnership in economic forecasting, preparing impact assessment studies, and planning expertise at the strategic, central, sectoral, and regional levels.

 

Benefiting from the Egyptian experience in maximizing the utilization of development finance and Joint Committees as a tool for economic diplomacy.

 

Cooperation with the Institute of National Planning in preparing joint research and studies and implementing training programs.

 

Lebanese Minister of Economy: We draw inspiration from “Egypt's Narrative for Economic Development” to forge a new narrative to move the Lebanese economy from crises and wars to construction, development, and investment.

 

 

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, stated that the Egyptian-Lebanese Higher Joint Committee resulted in numerous Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and documents that strengthen cooperation between the two sister countries. Among these are two MoUs on economic and development policy-making and the exchange of expertise, as well as an MoU with the Institute of National Planning (INP) in Egypt.

 

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, Dr. Al-Mashat added that the MoU in the field of development and economic policy-making stems from the two countries' keenness to exchange joint expertise and coordinate to develop bilateral relations. She noted that, under this MoU, the Ministry cooperates with the Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade in the fields of setting plans and policies related to sustainable development, preparing National and Local Voluntary Reports, the Integrated System for Planning and Follow-up and raising the efficiency of public investment, economic modeling and forecasting, quantitative models, and preparing macroeconomic impact assessment studies.

 

Dr. Al-Mashat also pointed out that the two countries are strengthening joint relations in the fields of planning expertise at the strategic, central, sectoral, and regional levels, program and performance budgeting, the government performance monitoring system, developing national accounts, conducting surveys and censuses, capacity building, and providing various training programs in the fields of planning, strategic planning, governance, and sustainable development.

 

Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted that Egypt possesses great expertise in maximizing the benefit from development finance and the effectiveness of relations with development partners. Therefore, the two sides will work to exchange expertise to achieve the maximum possible development benefit in the fields of International Cooperation, development cooperation effectiveness, negotiating with international institutions, and development finance tools, in addition to the role of the Joint Committees as a tool of economic diplomacy.

 

Minister Al-Mashat indicated that the coming period will witness further cooperation in the exchange of visits, expertise, information, research, and studies in the field of planning and international cooperation. This stems from the experiences of both countries in economic and regional planning and international cooperation, and submitting proposals and recommendations that contribute to developing the work of the planning and international cooperation entities in both countries and exchanging field visits between them to transfer and exchange expertise.

 

In a related context, the Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation clarified that the MoU concluded between the Institute of National Planning in the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Ministry of Economy and Trade in the Lebanese Republic aims to strengthen joint cooperation in the fields of preparing joint research and studies, joint cooperation in implementing training programs, and providing consultations in various fields of mutual interest.

 

During the committee's activities, Dr. Amer Bisat, Lebanese Minister of Economy and Trade reaffirmed the depth of relations with Egypt, saying: "Lebanon went through a difficult period in recent years, and today we are starting a new period. We borrow from Dr. Rania Al-Mashat the concept of “Egypt's Narrative for Economic Development” launched by Egypt, to say that Lebanon is creating a new narrative that is not based on crises and wars, but on investment, construction, and development. Therefore, we are determined to restore our historical relations with Egypt, and through the signed agreements, we seek to increase investments and trade exchange, which we will work on following up with Egypt’s Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation in the coming period.”

 

It is noteworthy that the Egyptian-Lebanese Higher Joint Committee concluded its work under the chairmanship of the prime ministers of the two countries, during which 15 MoUs and joint cooperation documents were signed in the fields of planning, local development, social protection, aviation sciences, maritime transport, industrial cooperation, technical education, agricultural research, housing and urban development, travel, financial supervision, and others.