Egypt’s Minister of Local Development, Dr. Manal Awad, held a meeting yesterday with Kim Yong Hyun, the South Korean Ambassador to Cairo, to discuss the execution of key initiatives outlined in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Egypt’s Ministry of Local Development and South Korea’s Ministry of Interior and Security. The discussions focused on advancing cooperation in local development, with particular emphasis on a South Korean grant aimed at establishing a simulation center for training local government officials, private sector representatives, and civil society in solid waste management at the Saqqara Training Center. Additionally, the MoU includes scholarship and training programs in South Korea, as well as feasibility studies for technical projects implemented by the Egyptian Ministry.
The meeting further explored practical mechanisms for executing the MoU, particularly coordination with the Samuel Andong Foundation, an organization dedicated to rural development in South Korea. Both parties examined how this foundation’s expertise could complement Egypt’s “Decent Life” initiative, a global model for rural development aimed at improving the quality of life for millions of citizens. Furthermore, the implementation of training and development programs stipulated in the MoU was discussed.
Minister Awad emphasized the Ministry’s keen interest in leveraging South Korea’s successful experiences in local governance and development, particularly given the growing bilateral ties between the two countries. She expressed admiration for South Korea’s significant achievements across various sectors, including local administration, waste management, and environmental sustainability.
The Minister also underscored her commitment to enhancing the skills and capabilities of local administrative personnel, including providing additional training scholarships for Egyptian staff in South Korea. She highlighted key areas of focus, such as women’s empowerment, the development of economic clusters in local governorates, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, digital transformation, and the promotion of a green economy.
In turn, Ambassador Kim expressed strong support for expanding the scope of cooperation between South Korea and Egypt’s Ministry of Local Development. He reaffirmed South Korea’s willingness to share advanced technologies in solid waste management, environmental preservation, climate change mitigation, and capacity building to support Egypt’s local development goals.
