Egyptian Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat met with French Ambassador to Cairo Eric Chevalier to discuss future economic cooperation between the two countries. The meeting focused on recently signed agreements financing development projects and upcoming partnership priorities. Al-Mashat emphasised the strong relationship between Egypt and France, highlighting the implementation of various development projects supported by the French government and the French Development Agency. She praised the agencies' role in promoting economic growth across multiple sectors in Egypt. Recent collaborative efforts between technical teams from both countries have resulted in agreements financing projects in the railway, sanitation, electricity, and energy sectors, including funding for the Rubiki railway project, the minister noted. Al-Mashat reviewed Egypt's efforts to manage and enhance the efficiency of investment spending. These efforts, part of the government's programme, aim to ensure macroeconomic stability and encourage private sector investment. The Ministry of Planning is working to promote sustainable economic growth through data-driven policies, addressing development gaps, strengthening macroeconomic stability, implementing structural reforms, improving the business environment, supporting resilient macro-fiscal policies, and transitioning towards a green economy. The minister highlighted the significant progress in the Egyptian-French partnership since 2019. This progress is evident in a memorandum of understanding for a strategic partnership in socioeconomic development between Egypt and the French Development Agency for the period 2019-2023, aligned with Egypt's Vision 2030. Eight additional memorandums of understanding in various development fields were signed during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Egypt in 2019, followed by further bilateral agreements during Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's visit to Paris in 2020.
