An interview with Hamat Al-Ard Magazine with Ambassador Soha Gendy, Minister of Immigration and Egyptians Abroad Affairs.
Hama Al-Ard magazine’s interview with Ambassador/Soha Gendy, “Minister of Immigration and Egyptians Abroad Affairs”
Ambassador/ Soha Jundi:
- Egypt is the most important economic power within COMESA.
- Building human beings is the most important national duty.
- We are confident in the strength of the Egyptian economy.
Egypt has distinguished efforts in supporting its citizens in all parts of the world, and this is what we see achieved on the ground, as theMinistry of Immigration works to pay attention to the affairs of Egyptians abroad, and this is in the form of continuous efforts to protect their interests and guarantee the rights of immigrants among them, in a way that enhances national investments and achieves Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Therefore,Homat Al-Earth Magazine In this meeting, she interviews a minister who works to connect the people of Egypt abroad with their homeland, and makes sustainable mechanisms an opportunity to deepen the forms of positive interaction between the people of Egypt at home and abroad – she is Ambassador/Saha Gendi, “Minister of Immigration and Affairs of Egyptians Abroad,” who seeks with a beating heart and a patriotic spirit to support Egyptians abroad at all levels.. So to Lines of dialogue.
Conference “Egypt Can Trade and Industry with Africa”, how can the work of such conferences be directed towards crystallizing Egypt’s role in leading the continent of Africa at the level of sustainable development?
We are keen to exchange benefits with our brothers, provide job opportunities in the promising development projects that the African continent abounds with, and enhance efforts to achieve sustainable development for our countries. Therefore, we seek to launch a version of the “Egypt Can” series of conferences, entitled: “Egypt Can through Trade and Industry with Africa.” Because we believe in the importance of working to strengthen the Egyptian presence in Africa, and supporting various cooperation frameworks in the countries of the continent in various fields, in a way that contributes to achieving common interests and strengthening the bonds of relations.
Certainly, Egypt is one of the pivotal countries, and is linked by many economic agreements between Egypt and its brothers in Africa, as it is currently considered one of the most important economic powers within COMESA, and plays an important role in achieving more economic integration among the countries of the group, and it also pays great attention to participating in the various technical events and meetings that are held.
Adding: Egypt accounts for the largest share of the volume of intra-trade within COMESA, and Egypt was one of the first countries to sign the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, among many other African countries, in line with the Egyptian state’s orientation towards merger and integration with African countries, in addition to increasing the space available for accessing Egyptian exports in various African markets, within the framework of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), in addition to contributing In opening new markets for Egyptian exports, especially with West African countries, and these efforts would enhance the goals of sustainable development and achieve the prosperity we aspire to, within the future strategies that we are working on in Africa.
During the past period, the Ministry was keen to receive a number of African officials, whether within the COMESA meetings, or within the sessions designated for African businessmen. We also met during the “An Hour with the Minister” initiative an elite group of Egyptian businessmen in several African countries. To discuss ways to expand in African markets, and open the door for Egyptian youth to more job opportunities there, as part of the Ministry of Immigration’s ongoing strategy to provide safe alternatives for youth, and to enhance exports to provide hard currency. The volume of Egyptian exports to the countries of the continent during the last period increased by a large percentage, and many products came to the forefront, including: marble, cement, polyethylene, and phosphate fertilizers, which are among the most important Egyptian exports to the countries of the continent.
We have greater ambitions in the coming period. Therefore, we are keen to discuss all these plans and proposals with Egyptian businessmen in Africa, to discuss their plans and proposals and ways to implement them, in cooperation with Egyptian ministries and state institutions, which contributes to providing more job opportunities for young people, in addition to developing local communities, by exchanging experiences, and pushing efforts to achieve the best results that we seek, in accordance with the proposals and plans drawn up by specialized experts.
The Ministry has a very important role in dealing with illegal immigration. What is the Ministry’s future role in combating this phenomenon that delays many development processes in light of the current global crises?
We are keen to continue the efforts of the Ministry of Immigration in confronting illegal immigration, and we strive with all our energy to serve our children in the governorates, and to participate in the efforts of the political leadership represented in achieving the goals of sustainable development and human building, in cooperation with the ministries and institutions of the Egyptian state, and we always emphasize that immigration can be a fundamental pillar in plans for sustainable development, prosperity and progress, if immigration is managed well, which we are keen on, whether by providing training and qualification for young people and integrating Returnees, or through continuous awareness of various groups exposed to the phenomenon of illegal immigration.
We were keen to provide safe alternatives, as part of the efforts of the presidential initiative “Survival Boats”, including the rehabilitation and training of youth, as the Ministry provided about 341 awareness courses in 14 governorates, among the governorates that export the most illegal immigration, from which 8,656 young men and women benefited, in addition to training 3,334 trainers to raise awareness of youth in the governorates that export the most illegal immigration, and providing 257 training courses for youth on crafts. Various projects benefited more than 6,000 young people in 18 governorates, and we still have many ambitious projects to achieve more successes and provide real development in the governorates that source illegal immigration.
As part of our awareness efforts, we were keen to educate about 2 million people, in cooperation with the National Council for Women, as part of the door-knocking campaign, as part of efforts to confront illegal immigration, in 183 villages that source illegal immigration in 11 governorates. The Ministry of Immigration also held 33 public meetings, with the participation of about 20 thousand people in these conferences, in which representatives of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency participated, and presented project financing strategies, as well as reviewing successful models of projects. youth; To motivate others to work and strive within the homeland, and not to risk their lives on death journeys.
We were also keen to cooperate with international partners, to train and qualify young people, so came the Egyptian-German Center for Jobs, Immigration and Reintegration, which is based on providing advice and guidance to Egyptians regarding working in Egypt, and providing opportunities for those returning from abroad through their economic and social reintegration. The center also provides services to Egyptian youth to improve their capabilities and develop their skills with the aim of finding job opportunities, as it was launched in November 2020, and began its work in February. 2021; In implementation of the presidential directives of the Ministry of Immigration; To study the European Union markets and enhance safe immigration opportunities for these markets, as the Ministry of Immigration is the national partner responsible for managing and supervising the center and similar centers with willing countries and international partners to cooperate in establishing similar centers in the future, including Australia, the Netherlands, Japan, the European Union, Saudi Arabia, and others, in addition to discussing ways to export labor to Jordan, Kazakhstan, and other countries.
We seek to contain this phenomenon, to provide safe future alternatives for young people, in addition to studying the causes of the phenomenon, in cooperation with specialized research centers, in addition to presenting a law proposal to confront the phenomenon of illegal immigration, and in coordination with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and the Egyptian Church. To raise awareness of the dangers of the phenomenon in societies that export illegal immigration, as well as to cooperate with the Ministry of Education to raise awareness of the dangers of the phenomenon, within the various curricula, as well as to ensure that young people in Egyptian universities are aware of the importance of investing in their time and learning the skills of the future, and knowing the jobs that are most in demand at the present time, including programming, machine language sciences, data analysis, and others; This provides them with excellent returns, as well as ensuring greater opportunities in this market, for which the demand is constantly increasing.
During the past period, your Excellency played an important role in communicating with Egyptian investors abroad who seek to establish an investment company for Egyptians abroad. How does Minister Soha Gendy view this step?
This company is a national project, and one of the most prominent demands of Egyptians abroad, whether from major investors who responded to the request to participate in the establishment, or citizens who wish to preserve and develop their savings, and one of the recommendations of the third edition of the Conference of Egyptian Entities Abroad, which was held in August 2022, which received the approval of the Prime Minister; Therefore, we held many meetings and meetings with a number of ministers and officials of the concerned authorities, during which the promising investment areas and opportunities in Egypt were discussed, in addition to the meetings held with a large number of Egyptian investors abroad, regarding reviewing the idea of establishing this company. Several proposals and visions were also presented in this regard, and to benefit from the plans that we are working on to develop society and provide foreign markets for Egyptian products, in addition to providing job opportunities for young people.
From the first moment, we have been keen to have it entirely managed by Egyptians abroad, as they have a lot of distinguished experience in the fields of finance and business, and manage international companies that have achieved success in the Egyptian market, and we are pushing towards the executive steps that will be taken to actually start establishing this company, its mechanisms, and the sectors in which it will work, which will be represented in industrial, agricultural, technological, real estate, and commercial investment. Since the announcement of the Prime Minister’s approval, many steps have been implemented, leading to registering the company with the General Investment Authority, and agreeing on the financial and legal advisory body.
This company includes a group of distinguished Egyptian experts and investors in many fields, who have a national motivation, and we are all keen to emphasize that the Egyptian economy is strong. We also seek for Egyptians abroad to benefit from the state’s efforts to improve the investment climate, and to translate that into pumping more investments into the arteries of the national economy. This ensures greater opportunities to attract investors in various fields. Although the goal of establishing the company is primarily national, it must also be a profitable and successful investment. Therefore, it was agreed that the Investment Company for Egyptians Abroad would be a “joint stock company”, working in various fields, such as the agricultural field, and tourism investment such as establishing hotels, in addition to paying attention to the industrial side. Because we are confident in the strength and durability of the Egyptian economy, and its ability to overcome difficulties.
In Egypt, we have many competitive advantages, including a promising market, and possessing distinct components to compete globally, such as a distinguished workforce, and good resources that can be invested in and maximizing our hard currency resources, in addition to providing job opportunities for young people. The infrastructure development taking place in Egypt during the last decade is one of the most important tools for attracting investments, in addition to the cost of raw materials, which are among the cheapest in the world. There is an agreement to prepare business plans and develop a strategy to move in the areas, which were agreed to begin work during the first phase of establishing the Investment Company for Egyptians Abroad. The company will be offered for subscription to those interested in investing from Egyptians abroad, and will be given the opportunity to buy shares, as well as launching an investment fund affiliated with the company. To attract major investors in various fields, as well as to act as an emergency fund, it can be used in the event that one of the contributing members wishes to exit.
