Egypt’s FM participates in BRICS Plus Foreign Ministers virtual meeting

CAIRO – 20 May 2022: EgyptianForeign Minister Sameh Shoukry participated on May 19, 2022 in the BRICS Plus Foreign Ministers virtual meeting, at the invitation of the Chinese Foreign Minister, entitled “Increased Role of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries in Global Governance”.

 

 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Ambassador Ahmed Hafez, stated that Minister Shoukry delivered a speech in which he affirmed the deep and strong relations binding Egypt and the BRICS' countries, as well as Egypt's appreciation for its accession last December to the membership of the New Development Bank, which plays an important role in strengthening relations between the BRICS countries and their partners from developing countries through financial tools it offers, indicating that Egypt's accession to the Bank's membership at this timing is another evidence of the Egyptian economy’s strength and flexibility, and therefore looking forward to the Bank's support for Egyptian efforts in mobilizing foreign investments especially for green projects.

 

 

Ambassador Hafez added that Minister Shoukry also expressed that Egypt welcomes holding the meeting at this critical time in which the global economy is witnessing unprecedented challenges as a result of the continuing repercussions of COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to global energy and food crises that are forming amid unstable global circumstances, as well as the climate change challenge with facing its repercussions, which requires consolidated efforts of the international community and promoting cooperation and coordination among developing countries and emerging economies in order to reach effective and sustainable solutions to these challenges.

 

 

Minister Shoukry also highlighted the 27th session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) hosted and presided by Egypt in November 2022, noting that Egypt will spare no effort to ensure that the voice of developing countries will be strong and heard in international multilateral negotiations on climate change, and will work on delivering balanced outcomes of COP27 to address the priorities of the developing countries and respond to the challenges faced by millions around the globe due to the negative repercussions of climate change.

 

 

Ambassador Ahmed Hafez explained that Minister Shoukry stressed that the ambitious economic reform program that Egypt started to implement since 2016 succeeded in avoiding worst consequences due to the current challenges associated with the global economy, as Egypt was able to achieve positive growth rates throughout 2020 amid the peak of COVID-19 pandemic. Egypt also continues to take concrete steps to mitigate the effects of various global challenges, including through implementing effective social security programs such as "Takaful and Karama", and comprehensive societal economic development programs, especially in rural areas, such as "Hayah Karima”.

 

 

Minister Shoukry concluded his statement by emphasizing Egypt’s determination to continue its efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth and development, as well as to play an effective leading role in advancing the interests of developing countries at the international level and enhancing South-South cooperation in a way that contributes to bolstering the status of developing countries in an ever-evolving global order.

 

A press statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs