04:11 PM
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Books – Muhammad Sami:
Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly stressed the importance of the historical relations between Egypt and Armenia, which are due to Egypt historically hosting tens of thousands of Armenians, where there was a mixing between the Egyptian and Armenian peoples. There are many Egyptian families of Armenian origins.
This came during the Prime Minister’s reception today, Wednesday, with Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and his accompanying delegation, which included Ararat Mirzoyan, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hagop Simidyan, Armenian Minister of Environment, Harshiya Poladian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Cairo, and a number of Government officials and representatives of the Armenian business community.
After the reception, Madbouly accompanied the Armenian Prime Minister on a tour of some parts of the Council of Ministers headquarters in the Administrative Capital, and they stopped at a point overlooking the features of the government district and the financial and business district in the New Administrative Capital, and another point facing the House of Representatives, where the Prime Minister explained to Pashinyan the components of the government district and the financial district. And businesses, and answered a number of questions related to starting work in the New Administrative Capital, as well as starting housing in the government district.
The Prime Minister then held a meeting with his Armenian counterpart and his accompanying delegation in the presence of: Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Engineer Ahmed Samir, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Ambassador Khaled Amara, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs.
Madbouly welcomed Nikol Pashinyan and his accompanying delegation, especially since it was Pashinyan’s first visit to Egypt, stressing that such visits aim to advance and strengthen joint relations between the two countries.
The Prime Minister referred to the contributions of the Armenian community to the developments witnessed by Egypt in various political, economic and cultural fields.
Madbouly appreciated the meeting held yesterday by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi with the Armenian Prime Minister, stressing that it was a very fruitful meeting, noting that he appreciates the desire of the two countries to enhance cooperation in the economic fields, and to establish many partnerships between businessmen from both sides during the next stage.
He stressed Egypt’s interest in increasing the volume of economic and trade relations with Armenia, by benefiting from Yerevan’s status as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union.
In this regard, Madbouly thanked the Armenian side for the interest it showed in the first round of negotiations held in Cairo in 2019. To sign a free trade zone agreement with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, expressing his aspiration to continue these efforts with the aim of signing the agreement as soon as possible, because of the importance it represents for the Egyptian side in opening the markets of the countries of the Union – led by Armenia – to Egyptian exports.
The Prime Minister pointed out the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the fields of information technology and the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Madbouly also expressed Egypt’s interest in holding the sixth round of the Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation in Cairo as soon as possible, as well as holding a businessmen’s forum on the sidelines of the committee’s work.
The Prime Minister thanked the Armenian Prime Minister for Armenia naming one of its squares after Egypt, noting that Egypt, in return, would also name one of the squares after Armenia, expressing his strong appreciation for this matter.
The Prime Minister reviewed the Egyptian experience, the major developments taking place in Egypt, and the steps that have been taken at all economic, political and social levels, from which the Armenian side can benefit by exchanging visions, transferring experiences, and engaging in greater economic, commercial and investment cooperation.
For his part, the Armenian Prime Minister thanked Dr. Mostafa Madbouly for the warm reception and hospitality.
He added that the meetings he held yesterday, starting with the meeting with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which was followed by a number of meetings with ministers, were very fruitful, stressing that Armenia is looking forward to strengthening its political and economic relations with Egypt.
Pashinyan said that during his meeting yesterday with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, he requested his support to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid coming from Armenia into the Gaza Strip.
He explained that he also confirmed during the meeting that Armenia will provide all support to Dr. Khaled Al-Anani, Egypt’s candidate for the position of Director-General of UNESCO during the period (2025-2029).
The Prime Minister of Armenia expressed his aspiration to hold a meeting of the Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which Cairo will host at the earliest opportunity, and in parallel with its holding, a joint forum will be held for businessmen from both sides.
He praised the great achievement achieved in the New Administrative Capital, which he had noticed since his arrival to the capital, stressing that this project is very important, and Armenia is implementing a project similar to it, but it will serve as an academic city hosting universities and major scientific institutions there.
He stressed the desire to benefit from the Egyptian experience in establishing the administrative capital, to establish the scientific academic city, with regard to the business model on which the capital was established, and the implementing companies, as well as the financing model and the mechanism for achieving profits from such projects.
Pashinyan expressed his aspiration to see a large number of Egyptian students in Armenian universities.
In this context, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly explained the details of the establishment of the Administrative Capital Company, the beginnings of the establishment of the capital and its various projects.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Prime Ministers of Egypt and Armenia confirmed that the coming period will witness more arrangements for convening the Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which will be hosted by Cairo, and that they will closely follow up on the results of these arrangements with the relevant ministers. As well as arranging to hold a joint businessmen’s forum.