▪︎ Dr. Konsowa Highlights the Role of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Supporting Development in Africa
Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, received a high-level delegation from Romania, including Mr. Dacian Cioloș, Advisor to the President of Romania and Romania’s candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF); Dr. Ciprian Mihali, Special Representative of the Romanian President for Francophonie Affairs; Ms. Olivia Toderean, Ambassador of Romania to Cairo; Ms. Amira Mihăilescu, Minister-Counsellor at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of the Francophonie Portfolio; Mr. Adrian Jaman, Deputy Ambassador of Romania to Cairo; and Ms. Oana Marinescu, Communications Advisor.
The meeting was attended on the Egyptian side by Ambassador Fatma El Zahraa Etman, Personal Representative of the President of the Republic to the Permanent Council of La Francophonie; Ambassador Amr El Sherbiny, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral Affairs and International Security; Minister Plenipotentiary Engy Sherif El Samnoudy, Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Francophonie Affairs; Dr. Ayman Farid, Assistant Minister and Head of the Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector; and Dr. Salma Yousry, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation.
At the outset of the meeting, Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa welcomed the Romanian delegation, emphasizing the deep-rooted and distinguished relations between Egypt and Romania and the continuous development of cooperation across various fields, particularly higher education, scientific research, and innovation. He also highlighted Egypt’s strong ties with European countries and the state's commitment to strengthening cooperation and partnership frameworks with Europe in a manner that serves mutual interests and supports sustainable development efforts.
The Minister affirmed Egypt’s interest in enhancing cooperation with the International Organization of La Francophonie, based on its belief in the important role the organization plays in supporting development, building human capacities, and promoting cultural and scientific dialogue among member states, particularly in Africa, which remains a priority of Egyptian foreign policy.
Dr. Konsowa stressed the importance of supporting higher education and scientific research as key instruments of scientific diplomacy capable of disseminating knowledge, promoting the values of peace, and achieving sustainable development, in line with the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi supporting development, peace, and stability efforts in the region.
The Minister reviewed the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen academic and scientific cooperation with African countries through the expansion of Egyptian university branches across the continent, contributing to human capacity building and providing high-quality university education opportunities for African youth. He noted that Egypt already operates university branches in the Republic of Chad and the Republic of South Sudan and is studying the establishment of additional branches in several African countries in the coming period.
He also highlighted Egypt’s efforts to support French-speaking educational institutions, noting that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and French President Emmanuel Macron recently inaugurated the new campus of Senghor University in Borg El Arab, Alexandria. As one of the principal institutions affiliated with the International Organization of La Francophonie, the university plays a pivotal role in preparing and training African professionals in sustainable development, governance, international public health, environmental management, and cultural heritage, thereby reinforcing Egypt’s role as a regional hub for higher education and service to the African continent.
Dr. Konsowa expressed Egypt’s readiness to expand cooperation with the International Organization of La Francophonie in areas including knowledge exchange, research collaboration, youth innovation, and joint research projects aimed at addressing Africa’s development challenges. He emphasized that building a knowledge-based economy represents one of the main pathways toward achieving sustainable development for African peoples. He also underscored the importance of expanding cooperation in technological education and strengthening technical education systems as fundamental pillars for supporting industry and meeting labor market needs.
On another front, the Minister praised the progress achieved in academic cooperation between Egypt and Romania, reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to expanding partnerships between universities and research institutions in both countries and maximizing the benefits of available opportunities in education, scientific research, and technology.
For his part, Mr. Dacian Cioloș expressed his pleasure at visiting Egypt, noting that the International Organization of La Francophonie seeks to promote the French language as a tool for cultural and civilizational communication and as a bridge for fostering understanding among peoples. He stressed the importance of leveraging the cultural respect and appreciation enjoyed by the French language to support cooperation and development among Francophone communities.
He emphasized that Egypt is a pivotal country in Africa and occupies a significant position in supporting the organization’s objectives and mission. He also highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation in key sectors serving the continent, particularly artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, healthcare, agriculture, and modern technology.
Mr. Cioloș further stressed that international cooperation should focus on serving future generations and empowering youth through practical programs and initiatives that promote student, academic, and research exchanges, facilitate knowledge and technology transfer among countries, and positively contribute to sustainable development efforts.
He also referred to the organization’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with other international and regional organizations whose objectives align with those of La Francophonie, thereby accelerating the achievement of shared goals.
Ambassador Fatma El Zahraa Etman, Personal Representative of the President of the Republic to the Permanent Council of La Francophonie, reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to strengthening its active role within the organization. She highlighted Egypt’s dedication to advancing the organization’s goals, foremost among them supporting sustainable development in all its dimensions, promoting dialogue, pluralism, acceptance of others, and cultural diversity, as well as enhancing human capacities through education and training across various development sectors. She also emphasized support for multilateral initiatives in education, women’s empowerment, youth development, and fostering innovation, creativity, and digital transformation as the language of the future.
Ambassador Amr El Sherbiny, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral Affairs and International Security, conveyed the greetings of Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, and thanked the candidate for choosing Egypt as the first destination of his international tour. He expressed Egypt’s appreciation for Romania’s support for Senghor University on the occasion of inaugurating its new campus in New Borg El Arab City. He also noted that Alexandria has historically served as a bridge between the two shores of the Mediterranean, which led Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali and African leaders at the time to select it as the headquarters of Senghor University. He further emphasized the importance of activating the role of La Francophonie, particularly amid the pressures and challenges facing the multilateral international system.
In turn, Ms. Olivia Toderean, Ambassador of Romania to the Arab Republic of Egypt, emphasized the depth of relations between the two friendly countries and praised the progress achieved across various fields. She reaffirmed Romania’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Egypt in higher education, scientific research, and academic exchange, in a manner that serves the mutual interests of both countries and contributes to building sustainable partnerships that support development and innovation.
