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- Egypt signed seven development financing grant agreements with the United States of America through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), worth US$125 million
- This was revealed by Minister of International Cooperation Rania A. Al-Mashat announced Monday
- Al-Mashat clarified that these agreements come within the framework of the joint economic relations between Egypt and the United States of America, which supports Egypt’s development vision across various sectors
- US Ambassador to Egypt Jonathan Cohen; and the Mission Director of the USAID Egypt, Leslie Reed were present along with the minister during the signing ceremony
Egypt signed seven development financing grant agreements with the United States of America through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), worth US$125 million. This was revealed by Minister of International Cooperation Rania A. Al-Mashat announced Monday.
Al-Mashat clarified that these agreements come within the framework of the joint economic relations between Egypt and the United States of America, which supports Egypt’s development vision across various sectors. US Ambassador to Egypt Jonathan Cohen; and the Mission Director of the USAID Egypt, Leslie Reed were present along with the minister during the signing ceremony.
Al-Mashat highlighted the depth and significance of the bilateral relations between Egypt and the United States across various sectors. The seven sectors which will get focussed attention include basic education, higher education, science and technology, agriculture, health, economic governance, trade and investment. She also said that US$5 million has been allocated for combating the impact of the coronavirus pandemic by the Egyptian government. .
The signed agreements allocate US$17 million to the sector of basic education; US$31 million to the U.S.-Egypt Higher Education Initiative (HEI); US$4 million to U.S-Egyptian cooperation in the sector of science and technology; US$27 million to economic governance; US$5 million to agriculture and rural development; and US$28 million to bolstering trade and investment in Egypt.
Al-Mashat further elaborated that her Ministry is currently designing a new program with USAID to ensure women economic and social empowerment, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. It also seeks to improve the work environment for women in the private sector, as well as to expand women’s financial inclusion.
U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, Jonathan Cohen said that the US assistance, which amounted to US$ 30 billion over a period of time to Egypt, has helped, among other things, in providing clean water and wastewater recycling services. This has helped approximately 25 million Egyptians, eliminating polio and in building 2,000 schools. In addition, The US, through US AID, is providing 4,000 university scholarships. he added.
