Sisi tells Egypt-ICF: Green recovery becomes urgent need, top priority for world governments

CAIRO – 8 September 2021: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said green recovery has become a pressing necessity and a top priority for world governments currently, as he gave a speech during the first edition of Egypt's International Cooperation Forum (Egypt-ICF).

“In present time, humanity is passing through the most difficult test in long period of time as it faces numerous challenges represented in the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic and the negative impact of climate changes,” Sisi said.

“This imposes a new reality upon us that requires more creative ideas and formulations in the decision-making process and more awareness with regard to potential dangers and a balanced approach based on joint action to achieve sustainable and green economic development and progress to fulfill the aspirations of the peoples of the world,” the president noted.

Sisi affirmed the need to take into consideration the “variation in economic and social conditions of emerging and developing countries, which have been hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. This might hamper their ability to keep up with the green recovery process”.

Sisi also stressed the necessity that international community and global financial institutions support developing countries in achieving the desired goals of this ambitious agenda.

“There is no doubt that governments alone cannot make this recovery possible. Therefore, the pivotal role of the private sector arises in order to move forward toward a sustainable future through innovative mechanisms to mobilize resources and blended finance.”

“This aims to enhance the private sector’s participation in the various development fields in tandem with the sound employment of technology and digital transformation to achieve the coveted economic and social development of the entire world.”

“Egypt was at the forefront of countries which developed a long-term strategic plan to achieve Sustainable Development 2030 based on national priorities and principles with the aim of achieving sustainable and comprehensive development.”

“In this regard, the environment dimension was deemed a fundamental pillar in all development sectors to overcome the impact of climate change, preserve natural resources and move toward comprehensive and sustainable development, thus safeguarding the rights of the coming generations.”

“The development goals of ‘Egypt Vision 2030’ come in alignment with the ‘UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Africa 2063 Development Agenda to bolster the values of joint action and multilateral cooperation to support development efforts in various countries.”

“In this regard, we underscore the importance of achieving African integration by invigorating the executive mechanisms of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, which is considered a key axis in our deliberations in this forum.”

Sisi said: “this agreement constitutes a momentum to move toward enhancing integration and amalgamation among the continent’s countries, which have huge opportunities to assume a key role in the future of global economy”.

“Egypt has made a pledge upon itself to move toward achieving development in tandem with countering the accumulative challenges and problems,” he told Egypt-ICF.

“We have succeeded over the past years to push forward development efforts in a multitude of sectors through carrying out mega infrastructure projects, providing social protection programs, boosting investment in human capital, and taking effective measures toward the transition to a green economy,” the president added.

This comes to “promote the life of the Egyptian citizen, improve the standard of his living, and fulfill his aspirations for a promising tomorrow and future.”

He added that these efforts have been lauded in numerous reports by international institutions.

“Based on that, Egypt welcomes the firm cooperation with international financial institutions, the United Nations and its affiliated agencies, to enhance development efforts and provide the necessary expertise to our brothers in the Middle East region and Africa.”

The president affirmed the need “to move together toward achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, supporting Africa’s Agenda 2063 and accomplishing what the world has adopted in the Paris Climate Agreement.”

Sisi welcomed the ICF’s honorable guests, wishing them “a fruitful conference that shall contribute to the efforts of the international community to achieve sustainable development”.