Cairo: Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, participated in the celebration organized by the Indian Embassy in Cairo, marking the 61st anniversary of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program. In H.E.’s speech, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat expressed her pride in the 61 years of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program. The Minister highlighted that the program is a cornerstone in strengthening bilateral relations between Egypt and India, and it actively contributes to transferring technical expertise and advanced knowledge from India to Egypt and many other developing countries.

According to State Information Service Egypt, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized that the partnership between Egypt and India has witnessed significant development, covering numerous fields, reflecting the alignment and harmony between the two countries’ visions. She confirmed that both Egypt and India have always supported economic cooperation among the global South, believing that integration and collaboration are the way to achieve sustainable development and shared prosperity. H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat noted that Egypt’s commitment to strengthening South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation stems from a firm belief that countries with similar economic and social conditions can achieve tangible progress through the exchange of experiences and best practices that have proven successful in their local contexts.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also affirmed Egypt’s dedication to enhancing cooperation with India across various fields, based on a long history of friendly relations extending over seven decades. The Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation confirmed that human capital development is a key focus of the strategic partnership with India. She mentioned Egypt’s belief in the importance of capacity building and enhancing knowledge exchange activities to ensure that personnel are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to address contemporary challenges.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat stated that the ITEC program plays a pivotal role in enhancing cooperation among developing countries, not only through its extensive reach, encompassing 162 partner countries, but also through providing innovative forms of technical cooperation in various fields. As the national coordinator for the program in Egypt, H.E. Minister Al-Mashat reviewed the efforts of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation in collaboration with relevant authorities to ensure that national priorities align with the program’s objectives. These efforts have resulted in an increase in the number of training opportunities granted to Egypt from 40 to 200 annually, enabling over 1,500 Egyptian government officials to receive specialized training in diverse areas, including information technology, small and medium enterprises, entrepreneurship, public administration, auditing and accounting, rural development, parliamentary affairs, healthcare, renewable energy, and more.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat expressed Egypt’s interest in exploring new horizons for cooperation with India to exchange best practices and policies and benefit from the competitive advantages of both countries in various fields. This includes artificial intelligence applications, programming, supporting startups, enhancing public health, manufacturing locomotives, combating poverty, and addressing climate change. H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also reiterated Egypt’s belief that strengthening cooperation in these areas will contribute to achieving sustainable development.

To realize these goals, the ministry is working on designing tailored capacity-building programs and enhancing technical cooperation between research and educational institutions in both countries, including the National Planning Institute, the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, and their counterparts in India. This aims to strengthen the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation program and expand its scope to include new areas that address shared developmental needs.