In implementation of the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to activate national mechanisms for strengthening Egypt’s presence across the African continent, Dr. Badr Abdel Atty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates, inaugurated on Tuesday, the first meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD). The meeting followed the official approval of the Board’s formation.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt; Dr. Mohamed Farid, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade; Eng. Ibrahim Mahlab, former Prime Minister; Dr. Hala El-Said, Advisor to the President for Economic Affairs; Mr. Mohamed El-Etreby, Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Banks and CEO of the National Bank of Egypt; Ms. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and General Director of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV); MP Dr. Sherif El-Gabaly, Chairman of the African Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives; Ambassador Nermeen El-Zawahry, Assistant Foreign Minister and EAPD’s Secretary General; in addition to a number of prominent public figures and leading experts in the economic, financial, and development fields.
Minister Abdel Atty pointed out that this meeting represents an important foundational milestone in the Agency’s trajectory and a new institutional launch to bolster Egypt’s developmental role regionally and internationally.
Minister Abdel Atty noted that the Agency was established following President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s announcement during the African Union Summit in Malabo, in July 2014, reflecting Egypt’s unwavering commitment to supporting sustainable development and deepening cooperation with brotherly and friendly countries. This commitment stems from a firm belief that development constitutes one of the pillars of stability and peace and serves as a key instrument for enhancing partnerships based on mutual benefit and respect.
The Minister further underscored that the formation of the Board of Directors reflects a strategic selection of a balanced mix of political weight, executive expertise, economic capability, accumulated diplomatic experience, and academic depth. This ensures effective strategic guidance for the Agency’s work and maximizes the impact of its programs and initiatives. He highlighted the importance of leveraging the expertise of Board members, particularly in light of the Agency’s focus on supporting the African continent as a central pillar of Egypt’s national security and a top priority of Egypt’s foreign policy.
In this context, Minister Abdel Atty reaffirmed that the Board includes distinguished figures and senior political, executive, and parliamentary leaders, alongside diverse international and diplomatic expertise that boost the Agency’s external dimension. Additionally, the participation of representatives of the private sector and business community, open avenues for practical partnerships, innovative financing mechanisms, and the transfer of executive expertise in priority sectors, including trade, investment, energy, health, infrastructure, agriculture, and irrigation.
The Board further includes banking and financial leaders to support development financing tools, as well as academic and intellectual participation to provide analytical and strategic depth to the Agency’s programs.
The Minister concluded by expressing his confidence that the distinguished expertise and high-level competencies represented on the Board will promote the Agency’s capacity to fulfill its developmental role and advance its mission in a way that befits Egypt’s stature and its regional and international role. He also expressed his aspiration for the Board to commence its work and deliver fruitful outcomes that contribute to shaping a shared vision and establishing a strong and sustainable institutional foundation for the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development.
The meeting witnessed an exchange of views and ideas among Board members, experts, and participants. A number of practical proposals were reviewed to strengthen the Agency’s role and expand the scope of its development programs, thereby supporting Egypt’s efforts to build capacities and transfer expertise to sisterly and friendly countries, particularly in Africa, reflecting the Board members’ commitment to contributing their diverse expertise in support of the Agency’s orientation and reinforcing its role as a key arm of Egypt’s development diplomacy.
