Japan ambassador to Egypt Iwai Fumio delivers a talk at the ceremony in his residence
Maait received the award during a ceremony at the residence of Japanese Ambassador to Egypt Iwai Fumio in Cairo’s Garden City district.
The prestigious decoration, conferred by His Majesty Emperor Naruhito, is granted to individuals who have made distinguished contributions to strengthening Japan’s relations with other nations.
Maait received the honour in recognition of his role in advancing economic and developmental cooperation between Egypt and Japan.
In his address, Ambassador Iwai highlighted Maait’s efforts to deepen bilateral ties during his tenure as minister of finance and chairman of the Universal Health Insurance Authority from 2018 to 2024, describing his contribution as instrumental in expanding cooperation in the financial and healthcare sectors.
During his time in office, Maait oversaw significant reforms aimed at maintaining macroeconomic stability and broadening Egypt’s international financing base.
In March 2022, Egypt successfully issued its first-ever Samurai bonds in the Japanese market, raising approximately $500 million, a landmark step that diversified the country’s funding sources and underscored growing confidence between Cairo and Tokyo.
Maait's chairmanship of Egypt’s Universal Health Insurance Authority also played a central role in implementing the country’s comprehensive Universal Health Coverage system.
The healthcare reform project, one of Egypt’s flagship social protection initiatives, has benefited from technical expertise and longstanding support from Japan, reflecting the depth of cooperation between the two countries in the development sector.
In his remarks, Maait described Egypt–Japan relations as a model of constructive and friendly bilateral engagement.
He noted that cooperation spans key areas including education, culture, infrastructure, and healthcare, pointing to major joint projects such as the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST) and partnerships in vocational training and capacity-building.
He also expressed his appreciation to the Japanese leadership for the honour, affirming his commitment to further strengthening ties between Cairo and Tokyo.
Egypt and Japan have maintained decades of close diplomatic relations marked by steady political dialogue and expanding economic collaboration.
In recent years, the partnership has grown to include major infrastructure projects, development financing, and enhanced private-sector engagement, reflecting a shared interest in sustainable development and regional stability.
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