The Canada Egypt Business Council (CEBC) and the Egyptian Council for Sustainable Development (ECSD) hosted a special event and panel discussion featuring H.E. Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Over 300 notable attendees were present at the event. The attendees were CEBC’s and ECSD’s esteemed members, guests, businessmen, politicians and ambassadors, among whom was ambassador Troy Lula…..the newly appointed ambassador of Canada to Egypt.

In his opening remarks Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry commented on the prestigious welcoming and hospitality to President Sisi on his last visit to the U.S. which indicates Egypt’s leadership in the region and the world’s respect to this great country and weighing the nation’s opinion concerning what’s happening in the region.

In response to a question about his meeting with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN and whether the report of Human Rights Watch was discussed or hinted at during this meeting, the minister clarified that the report was inaccurate, and therefore was not mentioned during the meeting with the High Commissioner in any way, he added that the meeting discussed other topics that touch human rights in general .

The minister affirmed that the state is currently considering ways of eliminating bureaucracy with regards to supporting the investment as well as focusing on the development projects through presenting new legislations.

The minister said that the vast majority of Egyptian external representation has sufficient experience to carry out the functions of media and tourist offices in light of the current difficult economic situation in light of some of the decisions taken to rationalize our means of spending.

In response to another question about the relationship with Ethiopia, the minister commented on that by stating that Ethiopia stated that it has no intention whatsoever to harm the interests of Egypt’s water resources, especially after the meeting between President Sisi and the Ethiopian Prime Minister, noting that the meetings will be ongoing between the two sides aiming at building trust between the two countries, and commenting positively on the bilateral meeting that was held in New York, which confirmed on the positive cooperation between the two countries to join efforts to reach the best solution for both parties commenting on that by saying “the Nile is a reason to unite us together not to divides us”

The minister sees that the relationship between Egypt and Ethiopia is going in the right direction, but should be based on a more comprehensive framework, further than meeting Malabo whereby the next stages should be set clearly.

Opening the subject of Turkey, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry confirmed again the belief of the Egyptian government that the political decisions are the responsibility of the Turkish people alone, without any interference of other countries, noting that Egypt does not and will not interfere in the affairs of others with a complete understanding and respect to the Turkish people who always enjoyed close ties with the Egyptians however the dignity and interests of the Egyptian people will always be above any considerations.

In response to a question about ‘Daash’ the minister commented that Egypt hopes and supports the Iraqi government’s efforts in confronting the challenges facing the country.

The minister said that Egypt’s relations with the United States is based on mutual interests and that there is no so called “replacing a relationship with another relationship”, noting that the relationship with Russia is also based on a strong foundation with a goal to achieve the interests of the Egyptian people and not as others may see it as a tradeoff one. “Egyptian Foreign Relations in Modern Egypt is based on balance, equality and mutual interests. Egypt has only achieved a better stability through the support of the Egyptian people for the policies of the current government”

The minister said that President al-Sisi demanded a thorough study of how to meet the requirements of Egyptians abroad and maintain their continuous communication with their homeland.

On his part, Eng. Motaz Raslan, Chairman CEBC, commented on president’s Sisi visit to the United Nations in New York by saying “it was a glimmer of hope to attract again new foreign investment to the Egyptian market”, noting that the visit has achieved great success which should be used and completed by the efforts of the private sector and the government together to open new horizons of investments in Egypt.