Egypt and the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) signed four bilateral assistance agreements worth of about $59m on Sunday, according to a statement from the US embassy in Egypt. The agreements aim to support Egypt's development priorities in the fields of health, higher education, trade, investment, science and technology, the statement noted. Furthermore, the statement added that these agreements are in line with Egypt's Vision 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy, as they promote inclusive, enterprise-driven development. “These agreements reflect our strong and enduring partnership with the Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation and our continuing commitment to economic and social inclusion for the Egyptian people," USAID mission director to Egypt, Sherry F. Carlin, said. According to the statement, the health agreement will focus on improving healthy behaviours, enhancing the quality of health service, and helping the Egyptian government guide policy and programme design by supporting research, monitoring, and training in key areas such as voluntary family planning. On the education front, USAID through the higher education agreement targets supporting Egypt's goals to align the skills of graduates with market needs, the statement mentioned. Moreover, the trade and investment agreement facilitates USAID's ongoing partnership with the Egyptian government in creating a private-sector-friendly business environment. This partnership is especially focused on promoting inclusiveness and sustainability for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises by focusing on small businesses that specifically provide jobs for youth and women. Finally, the science and technology agreement maintains the US commitment to joint research between the US and Egyptian scientists. USAID's work in this area addresses development challenges and promotes economic growth, with a focus on applied scientific research and technology commercialization, the statement concluded. USAID's programmes in Egypt are totalling over $30bn since 1978.
