As part of Egypt’s expanding international development agenda, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, concluded her participation at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) with a series of high-level bilateral meetings in Tokyo. These engagements underscored Egypt’s commitment to multilateralism, sustainable development, and inclusive economic growth across Africa and within its borders.
Dr. Al-Mashat met with:
- Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF
- Shuhei Hara, First Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
- William Roos, Assistant Minister of the French Treasury for Multilateral Affairs, Development and Trade, and Co-Chair of the Paris Club
Strengthening Egypt–Japan Strategic Relations
In her meeting with JICA’s Vice President, Al-Mashat thanked the Japanese government for hosting TICAD9 and spotlighted the 70-year partnership between Egypt and Japan. The two sides reviewed the jointly prepared report: “Joint Relations: 70 Years of Friendship and Trust”, showcasing areas of cooperation in health, education, infrastructure, and public sector modernization.
Al-Mashat emphasized Egypt’s aspirations to broaden the scope of collaboration to include advanced technologies, AI, localized manufacturing, and private sector engagement. She highlighted Egypt’s dedication to expanding access to innovative finance tools and deepening ties with Japanese financial institutions to boost FDI and multi-stakeholder development partnerships.
Partnership with UNICEF: Supporting Human Development
In talks with UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, the discussion centered on supporting Egypt’s Human Development Agenda within the framework of the UN-Egypt Strategic Partnership (2023–2027). The minister praised the joint efforts to improve child health, nutrition, education, and the protection of vulnerable populations, including migrants and refugees.
Al-Mashat noted Egypt’s upward trajectory in the UN Human Development Index, moving from a “medium” to a “high” category, now ranking 100 out of 193 countries in 2023—five places ahead of its 2021 position.
Discussions also covered:
- The Generation Unlimited (Shabab Balad) initiative launched at Egypt’s World Youth Forum, now the first multi-stakeholder youth platform in the MENA region.
- Support for the Integrated National Financing and Sustainability Strategy, developed in collaboration with UNDP and ESCWA, which aims to bridge financing gaps and improve resource allocation for national development priorities through 2030.
- UNICEF’s support in localizing Egypt’s Vision 2030, ensuring that basic services reach the most underserved communities.
Deepening Ties with France and the Paris Club
Dr. Al-Mashat also met with William Roos, Assistant Minister at the French Treasury and key figure in international financial architecture. Discussions spanned Egypt’s leadership in innovative financing, its upcoming participation in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Spain, and the country’s role in climate finance dialogues, including the Bridgetown Initiative.
The two sides explored Egypt’s involvement in:
- Establishing the Borrowers’ Forum, a UN-led platform co-launched with Spain and Zambia to address developing countries’ debt distress.
- Hosting the inaugural meeting of the Forum’s Permanent Secretariat, building on Egypt’s structural reforms and success in debt-swap programs.
- Supporting the Shared Information Hub, an exchange platform for best practices in innovative finance and debt-for-development mechanisms.
- Contributing to G20-led reforms of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to ensure broader access to concessional finance.
Egypt and Japan: 70 Years of Development Partnership
Coinciding with TICAD9, Egypt’s Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and JICA launched a milestone joint report titled:
“Joint Relations: 70 Years of Friendship and Trust”, documenting the depth, breadth, and success of Egyptian–Japanese cooperation since 1954.
The Minister reiterated Egypt’s commitment to aligning national policies with global goals, and positioning itself as a regional hub for youth empowerment, resilient finance, and development innovation.
