Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly affirmed Egypt's keenness to host the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2022, expressing the government's aspiration to support the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) efforts in this field. Madbouly met with Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Khaleda Bouzar and a delegation representing UNDP in Egypt. Madbouly pointed out that Bouzar participation in the "Egypt International Cooperation Forum" reflects the long partnership and distinguished cooperation with UNDP. The Prime Minister hailed the fruitful cooperation witnessed in the past period with UNDP regarding the issuance of its 12th report on human development. Madbouly indicated that the Egyptian government worked hard in light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in order to achieve the difficult equation to preserve the health of citizens and to consolidate the stability of the Egyptian economy and achieve growth rates on the other hand. The Prime Minister reviewed the government's efforts to deal with the phenomenon of climate change, noting that a National Council for Climate Change has been formed, and that it is currently formulating a "national strategy for climate change" in consultation with the concerned authorities and civil society, and benefiting from some other international experiences and expertise. Meanwhile, the PM reviewed the national project for the development of the Egyptian countryside, noting that this huge project actually translates the 2030 development goals by the United Nations and the success of this project will contribute to improving the lives of nearly half of Egypt's population. Moreover, Bouzar asserted the UNDP appreciation for the great role that Egypt plays in supporting development in the African continent and the Arab region. She asserted the need to encourage the private sector and its participation in the development of the Middle East and North Africa. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of the private sector in facing crises and supporting countries' efforts to achieve development, Bouzar added. She also praised the successful Egyptian experience in dealing with the repercussions of the Coronavirus pandemic, and its ability to achieve growth rates at the economic level, despite the challenges imposed by the pandemic globally.
