(From L to R) Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation Christian Berger, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat and Regional Representative of UNIDO in Egypt Patrick Jean Gilabert.
The signing was at the headquarters of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation in the New Administrative Capital.
The agreement was signed by the Head of the EU Delegation in Egypt Ambassador Christian Berger and the Regional Representative of the United Nations and Industrial Organization (UNIDO) in Egypt, Patrick Jean Gilabert.
The agreement aims to improve the capacity and efficiency of the Egyptian system for developing enterprises and trade. It also seeks to increase the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in selected industrial value chains.
El-Wazir explained that the European Union provided €8 million in funding for the EU Tigara's executive agreement.
EU Tigara, which spans 60 months, is a programme funded by the EU and implemented through the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in cooperation with the Ministries of Industry, Investment, and Foreign Trade.
The programme aims to increase the competitiveness and efficiency of the Egyptian private sector, create job opportunities, and boost sustainable economic growth.
Meanwhile, Al-Mashat stressed her keenness to align programs and projects implemented with international partners with government priorities, especially localizing industry and investing in human capital.
She noted that the EU Tigara programme is an important step within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to enhance the industrial sector competitiveness, support small and medium enterprises, and enable business owners to access new markets and create more job opportunities.
On the other hand, Berger stressed the importance of partnership, noting that the EU has been Egypt’s first and main trading partner for over 20 years through a free trade agreement.
He added that the EU supported Egypt in strengthening its industrial sector and increasing its exports.
Gilabert, in turn, emphasized the importance of the programme, noting that it constitutes a strategic initiative that aims to revolutionize Egypt’s industrial sector.
The current cooperation portfolio between Egypt and the EU is worth about €1.3 billion, including grants and blended financing to support water, agriculture, transport, and renewable energy projects. It also includes funding for small and medium enterprises and capacity building.
Similarly, the current portfolio between UNIDO and Egypt includes 18 projects worth $52 million.
Financing these projects and programmes aligns with the Egypt-EU Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership, according to which Egypt would receive €7.4 billion from the EU until 2027.
In July, Egypt received €1.8 billion as part of the EU’s €7.4 billion financing package to support the country’s economy. Several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth €67.7 billion have been recently signed with the EU to support Egypt's economy.
Meanwhile, in June, Al-Mashat and European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi signed four agreements for EU grants to Egypt worth nearly €300 million.
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