Egypt to host 1st UfM Business Forum on June 18

CAIRO – 7 May 2019: The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) announced that Egypt will host the first UfM Business Forum due to be held on June 18.

The #UfM holds its first event fully dedicated to #trade in #Egypt on 18 June 2019 with a focus on #MarketAccess & #eCommerce. #UfM4Trade pic.twitter.com/sf89thQ9XC

— Union for the Mediterranean (@UfMSecretariat) June 7, 2019

The UfM, in cooperation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and ASCAME will hold the Forum in Cairo under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The Forum will shed light on the economic integration and the development of the Mediterranean area, according to the Forum official website.

Environmentally, UfM Deputy Secretary General for Water and Environment, Miguel García-Herraiz praised Egypt's efforts in the field of pollution control and environmental conservation through mega-development projects in renewable energy, smart new cities, lake development and modern agriculture based on advanced technologies.

Herraiz's comments came on the sideline of the Union for the Mediterranean celebrations on the June 5, focusing on combating all sources of air pollution, which is one of the most serious environmental threats worldwide.

He also praised the solar project in Banban village of Aswan Governorate, which won the annual prize for the best projects of the World Bank this year, noting that it is the largest solar city in the world with investments up to $2 billion.

He highlighted Egypt's approach to building many new smart cities, including the new administrative capital, expecting that these projects become a model for smart cities in the Mediterranean region and the world to serve the programs of clean and eco-friendly urban development.

The Deputy Secretary-General for Environment and Water also praised Egypt's efforts in the development of Egyptian lakes and the elimination of infringements on them to eliminate all sources of pollution.

He pointed out that the development of Egyptian lakes will achieve many goals of the development of local communities, provide more employment opportunities, improve health conditions around these lakes, increase the efficiency of fisheries, and will utilize industry, agriculture and tourism in general.

He added that the Mediterranean region offers tremendous potential for sustainable and eco-friendly development. Herraiz stressed that the Union for the Mediterranean supported all efforts to implement the regional agendas on environment, water, energy efficiency, low-carbon energy sources (gas), and renewable energies.