Ashraf AboArafe
20 October 2022, CAIRO – Ahead of COP27 and on her first official visit to Egypt, UK Minister for Africa, Gillian Keegan, reaffirmed UK-Egypt partnership and thanked Egypt for its leadership on the climate change agenda.
Minister Keegan met with Foreign Minister and COP President Sameh Shoukry to discuss how the UK and Egypt can work together to secure the best outcome in the upcoming climate negotiations. The Minister also discussed a number of regional files with the Foreign Minister, thanking Egypt for its role in seeking stability across the Middle East & North Africa.
As part of Cairo Water Week, the Minister delivered opening remarks at an event hosted by the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation (AGWA), and met British businesspeople in Egypt to discuss the significant opportunities that exist for UK investment and expansion in Egypt, particularly in the renewables and green sectors.
The UK provides funding to AGWA in its work to develop a ‘Water Tracker’ tool, helping countries plan for the effects of climate change on water resources more effectively. Egypt has been a key country in this programme, and water will be one of the priority areas at COP27. Minister Keegan’s participation confirmed the UK’s continuing support on this vital issue.
She also met with Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Dr Mohamed Shaker, discussing how UK firms can best invest in Egypt’s booming renewables and green technology market, including solar, wind, and green hydrogen.
During her visit, she visited the British Council office in Cairo to explore the current work the UK has been supporting on education with Egyptian counterparts. She was also able to attend the COP27 Simulation Model, hosted by the British University in Egypt in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, where youth from all over the world simulate the negotiations that will take place at the actual COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh.
Speaking after the visit, Gillian Keegan said:
“In less than a month, Egypt will host the world’s leaders for the United Nations climate conference, COP27, and it is essential that the negotiations are a success. After meeting with my Egyptian counterparts, I am heartened by the effort, the energy, and the enthusiasm shown by the Egyptian government in its preparations.
I was grateful for the opportunity to meet with young Egyptian leaders, both those working on climate, and young entrepreneurs. I was struck by the dynamism and the passion on display. We owe it to these young people, and to future generations, to make real progress in a month’s time.”
