This came on the sidelines of the strategic dialogue held in Cairo, attended by Egyptian high-ranking officials, advisors from the US Department of State, senior officials from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and representatives from the US embassy in Cairo.

The working group was co-chaired by Assistant Foreign Minister for US Affairs Ambassador Sameh Aboul-Enein and Rafik Mansour, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy at the US State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The Egyptian delegation reaffirmed Egypt and the US’s commitment to investing in projects that empower youth, including internships, mentorships, and leadership programmes, positioning them as key drivers for future development.

This commitment also underlies investing in training and skill-building programmes to prepare Egyptian and American youth to face the challenges and seize the opportunities of the 21st-century global economy.

Additionally, both countries aim to enhance student exchange programmes between their universities to foster a greater exchange of knowledge, ideas, and cultural understanding.

A key aspect of this cooperation is encouraging the establishment of US university branch campuses in Egypt's new cities, such as the New Administrative Capital and New Alamein, to provide world-class education and further position Egypt as a regional education hub.

Moreover, the meeting also focused on strengthening public-private partnerships to propel the development of specific vital sectors.

In line with this, the Egyptian delegation emphasized the need to promote private sector investments across all areas of collaboration, including education, scientific research, culture, and tourism, to accelerate growth, create jobs, and ensure sustainability.

They stressed the importance of joint research initiatives in science, technology, and innovation, leveraging public and private sector support to drive advances in healthcare, renewable energy, and digital transformation.

Both sides also encouraged corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that support education, cultural preservation, and community development.

Egypt-US Strategic Dialogue
 

This working group is part of the larger Egyptian-American Strategic Dialogue, led by Egyptian Minister of Fopreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier on Wednesday.

During their press conference, Abdelatty and Blinken discussed enhancing bilateral relations across key sectors, such as education, tourism, and culture. 

On this note, Blinken announced an additional $129 million for funding hundreds of higher education scholarships, promoting entrepreneurship, and supporting healthcare initiatives in rural areas.

Abdelatty, on the other hand, announced that three branches of American universities will soon open in Egypt.

In addition, the presser also addressed pressing regional issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the crises in Sudan and Libya, and the importance of water security related to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The Egypt-US Strategic Dialogue is a key forum aimed at strengthening the bilateral relationship, deepening economic development, and increasing people-to-people ties through culture and education.