Japan and Egypt: strengthening strategic and economic partnerships｜Arab News Japan
TOKYO: Japan and Egypt have reached an agreement to bolster bilateral relations across multiple sectors during an official visit to Cairo by ONISHI Yohei, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Onishi conducted a series of meetings from August 3 to August 6, beginning with Deputy Foreign Minister Mohamed Abubakr, the former Ambassador to Japan. Both parties affirmed that bilateral cooperation in sectors including education, infrastructure, and tourism has progressed consistently, facilitated by high-level engagements.
Deputy Minister Abubakr expressed his anticipation regarding the establishment of a Japanese industrial complex within the Suez Canal Economic Zone, emphasizing Egypt’s strategic importance as a hub for expansion into Middle Eastern and African markets.
The two sides exchanged perspectives on facilitating the entry of Japanese enterprises into Egypt and enhancing the business environment, with a primary focus on economic and investment cooperation.
Furthermore, they discussed the potential for Japanese companies to expand into Africa, including neighboring Libya, through collaborative efforts between firms from both nations. Deputy Minister Abubakr highlighted the success of the Japanese-style education model introduced under the initiative of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, noting that it has garnered significant interest from other African nations.
Both parties confirmed the progress of various Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects and committed to continued collaboration as strategic partners.
Parliamentary Vice-Minister Onishi also met with Sahar AlBazar, Deputy Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Egyptian House of Representatives. They discussed the active role of the Japan-Egypt Friendship Parliamentarians’ Association and emphasized the importance of parliamentary exchanges as representatives of their respective citizens. The two sides agreed to cooperate in fostering further engagement between lawmakers in the future.
In Cairo, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Onishi received a briefing regarding the construction of Cairo Metro Line 4, including project details and progress, from the JICA Egypt Office, representatives of the National Authority for Tunnels, and participating Japanese companies.
He inspected the initial shipment of rail cars designated for Line 4, which arrived from Japan, and toured the train depot, which is projected to be the largest of its kind in Egypt upon completion.
Parliamentary Vice-Minister Onishi expressed his expectation that the project would alleviate traffic congestion in Cairo and provide enhanced convenience for both residents and tourists.
On August 6, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Onishi held discussions with representatives of Japanese companies operating in Egypt to address business opportunities and current challenges. These discussions were informed by the companies’ established presence in sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure, and energy, which benefit from Egypt’s domestic market of over 110 million people, a substantial young workforce, and its utility as an export base to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
The participants explored strategies to further develop bilateral economic relations and the potential for business expansion into Africa, including neighboring Libya.
The visit included a tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a project supported by Japan through yen loans and technical cooperation for construction, artifact preservation, and the enhancement of management and exhibition capabilities.
The museum officially opened last November. During the tour, conducted with guidance from JICA experts, Mr. Onishi was briefed on the Japanese-language exhibits and audio guides.
Additionally, he received a briefing on the second solar boat restoration project at the Khufu’s Boats Museum from Professor KUROKOUCHI Hiromasa of Waseda University. Parliamentary Vice-Minister Onishi expressed his hope that the GEM, serving as a new symbol of cultural cooperation between Japan and Egypt, will contribute to the preservation and exhibition of Egypt’s historical heritage, thereby promoting the tourism industry and facilitating job creation.
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