Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity, Dr. Maya Morsy, met with Ms. Yuko Mitsui, Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and her accompanying delegation at the Ministry headquarters in the New Administrative Capital.
The meeting marked Ms. Mitsui’s first visit to Egypt since assuming her position, with Minister Morsi welcoming her warmly and highlighting the productive and constructive cooperation between the Ministry and JICA.
Expanding Early Childhood Development Initiatives
Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral collaboration on projects aimed at improving the quality of early childhood development, implemented by JICA as part of the Egypt-Japan Partnership in Education and Scientific Research for Early Childhood.
Minister Morsi highlighted the Ministry’s recent initiatives, including the establishment of a childcare center for employees’ children at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, modeled after Japanese standards. She confirmed that additional centers and nurseries following the Japanese model would be established across Egypt.
The Minister also referenced the national census of nurseries conducted last month, in line with the directives of the President of Egypt, to expand access to early childhood services and strengthen the sector nationwide. The census revealed 48,225 nurseries serving over 1.7 million children, forming a key foundation for the next stage of development and reform in early childhood care.
JICA’s Support and Recognition
Ms. Yuko Mitsui praised the Ministry’s efforts in developing early childhood programs and acknowledged the significance of the national nursery census and its outcomes. She reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to supporting Egypt’s vision for early childhood development and emphasized the importance of the strong partnership between the two countries in this sector.
Site Visit and Observations
Following the meeting, Ms. Mitsui and her delegation toured the childcare center at the Ministry’s headquarters, observing the services and activities provided for children. She commended the facilities and programs, noting their importance in supporting children during this critical stage of development.
Attendees
The meeting was attended by key Ministry officials, including Engineer Margaret Sarofim, Deputy Minister of Social Solidarity; Dr. Hany Helal, Secretary-General of the Egypt-Japan Partnership for Education; Ms. Dina Al-Sirfi, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation; Ms. Mona Al-Shabrawy, Head of the Central Department for Family and Women Affairs; and Dr. Hanim Omar, Director-General of the Child Affairs Department.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to continue strengthening cooperation within the framework of the longstanding partnership between Egypt and Japan.
