The European Commission and Egypt’s Ministry of Industry have opened a new chapter in their longstanding partnership with the first coordination meeting between UNIDO’s Sub‑regional Office in Cairo and the Developmental Projects Unit. Held at the Ministry’s premises in the New Administrative Capital, the meeting brought together UNIDO project managers and senior representatives of the DPU to review the scope of UNIDO’s portfolio in Egypt and align it with the country’s evolving industrial priorities.
Patrick Gilabert, Head of UNIDO’s Cairo office, emphasized the depth of the bilateral relationship, noting that Egypt is a founding member of UNIDO and that their collaboration now represents the organization’s largest country portfolio, valued at around USD 67 million. Assistant Minister Ahmed Maghawry Diab highlighted strategic priorities such as supply chain development, investment gaps, energy efficiency, and building a competitive suppliers’ ecosystem, while also pointing to export ambitions and the need for compliance frameworks to access European markets.
Central to the discussions was the Programme for Country Partnership (PCP), the overarching framework guiding UNIDO’s work in Egypt. Initially covering 2020–2025, the PCP has been extended through 2027 and now encompasses a portfolio of over USD 130 million across six components, supported by partners including the EU, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. Projects presented during the meeting addressed green industrial transformation, clean technologies, circular economy, eco‑industrial parks, automotive green manufacturing, SME development, trade, green hydrogen, and carbon markets, all aligned with Egypt’s national priorities and the UNSDCF 2027.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen cooperation and explore specific projects in greater detail. Gilabert underscored the role of UNIDO’s Sub‑regional Office as a platform to extend Egypt’s expertise across the wider region, while Assistant Minister Diab expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to further support national development. Together, UNIDO and the Government of Egypt reaffirmed their dedication to advancing sustainable industrial development in the country.
