Press Releases
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs ONISHI’s Visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt (Results)
On August 3, and from August 6 to 7, Mr. ONISHI Yohei, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visited the Arab Republic of Egypt.
1. Meeting with Egyptian officials
(1) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Mohamed ABUBAKR, Deputy Foreign Minister for African Affairs
On August 6, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI held a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Abubakr, former Ambassador to Japan, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates in New Administrative Capital, and affirmed the bilateral cooperation in the various areas including education, infrastructure and tourism has been promoted consistently based on the active high level visits, such as Foreign Minister Abdelatty’s visit last June. Deputy Minister Abubakr showed his expectations toward building a Japanese industrial complex in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, and utilizing Egypt, located at the strategic key point, as a hub to expand into the Middle East and African countries. The two sides exchanged views on promoting Japanese companies' entry into Egypt and improving the business environment, mainly focusing on the economic and investment areas, as well as the potential for Japanese companies to expand into Africa including neighboring Libya, with cooperation between companies from both countries. Deputy Minister Abubakr mentioned that the Japanese-style education being introduced in Egypt under the president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's initiative is a successful model, and has been received interest from African countries as well. The two sides affirmed the progress of various ODA projects between two countries and agreed to continue working closely together as strategic partners.
(2) Meeting with Hon. Ms. Sahar ALBAZAR, Deputy Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee at the Egyptian House of Representative
On August 6, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI held a meeting with Deputy Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee Ms. Albazar, touching upon the active activities of the Japan-Egypt Friendship Parliamentarians’ Association, emphasized the importance of exchanges between parliaments of both countries, which represent the people of each country. The two sides agreed to cooperate toward boosting exchanges between lawmakers in the future.
2. Site visits
(1) Visit to the deport site of the Greater Cairo Metro Line 4 project
On August 3, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI was briefed about the contraction of the Cairo Metro Line 4, detail and progress of the project by the JICA office in Egypt, representatives of National Authority for Tunnel, and Japanese companies which take part in the project. He also observed the 1st batch of rail train set, Line 4 exclusive, that arrived from Japan, and the train depot which will be the biggest in Egypt when completed.
Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI showed his expectations to ease traffic congestion in Cairo, and to be convenient for locals and tourists through the completion of this project.
(2) Discussions with Japanese Company Officials
On August 6, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI exchanged views with representatives of Japanese companies operating in Egypt, hearing about further business opportunities and the challenges they are currently facing, based on the track record to expand in various fields such as manufacturing industries, infrastructure and energy fields in Egypt, in which there is a great potential in the domestic market with over 110 million people, abundant young workforce and as an export bases to the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The two sides discussed ways to further develop bilateral economic relations and possibility to expand the business into Africa including neighboring Libya.
(3) Visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum
On August 7, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI visited the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) which Japan supported construction, preservation and restoration of artifacts, and strengthening management and exhibition capabilities through yen loans and technical cooperation, and was opened officially last November. He was toured around GEM with guidance from JICA experts and was explained about exhibit explanations and audio guides in Japanese available at the museum. He was also briefed about the second soler boat restoration project at the display space of the Khufu’s boats Museum by Prof. KUROKOUCHI Hiromasa of Waseda University.
Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI expressed his expectations that GEM, a new symbol of cultural cooperation between Japan and Egypt, will contribute to the preservation and exhibition of Egypt's historical cultural heritage, and through that, promote the tourism industry and create job opportunities.