Madbouly follows up with the International Finance Corporation on the file of airport management and operation by the private sector
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, held a meeting yesterday evening with Ethiopis Tafara, Vice President for Africa at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and his accompanying delegation, to review developments in the file of airport management and operation by the private sector, in the presence of Dr. Hussein Issa, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs; Captain Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation; Dr. Samar El-Ahdal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation; and Ambassador Sherif Kamel, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Relations.
At the start of the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed the keenness on regular follow-up of areas of joint cooperation, noting the pivotal role that Dr. Hussein Issa, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, will play in accelerating the implementation of the existing partnership's targets, especially in the civil aviation sector, and following up on efforts to involve the private sector in the management and operation of Egyptian airports.
For his part, Ethiopis Tafara, IFC Vice President for Africa, praised the close strategic partnership with the Egyptian state, stressing the corporation's keenness to follow up on all existing tracks of cooperation with the government. He noted in this regard the importance of joint work in several vital sectors, foremost among them the airports sector and support for medium, small and micro enterprises, pointing out that this cooperation can contribute effectively to achieving the Egyptian state's development and economic targets.
During the meeting, Mounir Firouzi, IFC Director of Advisory Services for PPP Projects in Africa, reviewed the existing cooperation programs, the latest developments in the government offerings program, and the implementation status of offering the management and operation of Egyptian airports to the private sector, in line with international best practices in this regard.
Captain Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation, also reviewed the efforts made to offer Egyptian airports to the private sector in coordination with the IFC, especially Hurghada International Airport, noting the commitment to a set timetable being followed within the government offerings program, ensuring higher operating efficiency and quality of services at this vital facility.
Dr. Samar El-Ahdal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation, welcomed the level of coordination between the two sides, stressing the commitment to continue working according to the set timetables and plans. She noted that the International Cooperation sector, within the new structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attaches utmost importance to completing joint cooperation programs and achieving their targets, and stressed the keenness to make use of all currently available opportunities and explore new horizons for future cooperation serving the national development agenda.
For his part, Dr. Hussein Issa, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, stressed that the government offerings program is a key pillar of the "State Ownership Policy Document", which aims to empower the private sector and raise its contribution to GDP, emphasizing that cooperation with the IFC as the government's strategic adviser enhances the efficiency and attractiveness of the assets offered and ensures the highest international standards of transparency and governance are followed, strengthening the national economy and attracting more foreign direct investment.
In conclusion, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly stressed the continuation of regular follow-up of the cooperation tracks between the two sides, expressing his hope that all procedures for offering Hurghada International Airport will be completed as soon as possible, making it the first of the airports whose management and operation will be assigned to the private sector in line with international standards and specifications, according to the official Facebook page of the Egyptian Cabinet.
Attending the meeting from the IFC and the World Bank Group were: Ousmane Dione, World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa; Stephane Guimbert, World Bank Regional Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti; Cheick-Oumar Sylla, IFC Regional Director for North Africa and the Horn of Africa; and Mounir Firouzi, IFC Director of Advisory Services for PPP Projects in Africa, as well as a number of IFC officials.
