Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity, Dr. Maya Morsy, met with H.E. Fumio Iwai, the Japanese Ambassador to Egypt, and his accompanying delegation at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. The meeting brought together Eng. Margret Sarofim, Deputy Minister of Social Solidarity, Ms. Dina Al-Sairafi, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation, Relations, and International Agreements, and Ms. Amira Taj El-Din, Director General of the General Department of Agreements and International Relations.
The discussion focused on enhancing collaboration and expanding partnership opportunities in various shared areas of interest, building on the long-standing friendly relations between the two countries. Dr. Morsy wished the Japanese Ambassador success in his mission in Egypt. She also highlighted the valuable experience gained by the Director General of the Ministry’s Child Care Department during a one-month visit to Japan, where she studied Japan’s innovative practices in the field of early childhood care.
The conversation also revolved around the Ministry’s priorities for the upcoming period and the potential areas of cooperation with Japan, particularly in the expansion of early childhood care facilities to increase the integration of women into the workforce. The two sides also explored collaboration in elder care and services for people with disabilities, with a focus on accessibility in hospitals for all types of disabilities.
Additionally, the meeting addressed cooperation in building the capacity of civil society organizations by providing training programs for staff and volunteers to promote sustainability and support vulnerable groups in overcoming poverty, thus achieving economic security. The strong partnership between the government and civil society organizations was emphasized as a key driver for these efforts.
The Japanese Ambassador commended the ongoing cooperation between the Ministry and Japan, particularly through JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), reaffirming Japan’s continued readiness to support Egypt’s government, especially in the field of social development policies. A JICA representative shared that they had conducted training on agriculture just two weeks prior and discussed their previous experiences in working with civil society organizations.
The meeting concluded with both parties expressing their commitment to further strengthening cooperation across a variety of sectors in the future, ensuring continued collaboration for the benefit of both nations.
