Cairo – Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty met on Monday with Niels Annen, the German Parliamentary State Secretary for Economic Cooperation and Development, who is attending the World Urban Forum (WUF) from November 4-8. During their meeting, Minister Abdel Aty emphasized Egypt’s desire to expand bilateral cooperation with Germany and called for Germany’s support for Egyptian interests within the European Union (EU).
Abdel Aty praised the strong political, economic, and cultural ties between Egypt and Germany, highlighting the significant role that German companies have played in Egypt’s national development projects. He expressed appreciation for Germany’s contribution to Egypt’s economic and developmental goals, underscoring the importance of Germany as a major partner in the region.
Looking to the future, the Egyptian Foreign Minister expressed a keen interest in deepening cooperation in several key sectors, including energy, renewable energy, green hydrogen, education, and vocational training. He also stressed the importance of expanding opportunities for qualified Egyptian labor to move legally to Germany, particularly in light of the growing demand for skilled workers.
Minister Abdel Aty also noted the significance of Germany’s support for Egypt at the EU level, particularly after the agreement signed earlier this year to elevate EU-Egypt relations to a strategic partnership. He welcomed Germany’s potential backing for Egypt’s financial interests within the EU framework.
In the context of migration, the two ministers discussed Egypt’s efforts to combat illegal migration to Europe, while also reinforcing the importance of establishing legal migration pathways for qualified Egyptian labor to Germany.
Additionally, the meeting touched on collaboration on development projects across Africa. Abdel Aty presented Egypt’s initiatives in this area, including the work of the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development and the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding. The two sides expressed a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation for regional development and stability.
