Celebrating 70 Years of Japan–Egypt Cooperation―A Dialogue Reflecting on Mutual Trust and Achievements

— Launch of the Commemorative Booklet at TICAD 9 and the Conversation between JICA Executive Senior Vice President Shohei Hara and H.E.Dr.Rania Al Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation of Egypt.

The partnership, begun in 1954 with the acceptance of Egyptian trainees in Japan, has since expanded across sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, and tourism. To honor this milestone, the two countries jointly launched a commemorative booklet summarizing the history and outcomes of their cooperation at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) held in August 2025.

On this occasion, a special dialogue was held between Mr. Shohei Hara, Senior Vice President of JICA, and H.E. Dr. Rania Al Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation. Here are the key takeaways and highlights from their discussion.

At the opening of the dialogue, Minister Al Mashat expressed her gratitude:
"JICA’s cooperation has consistently delivered tangible outcomes aligned with Egypt’s national development goals, improving the lives of our citizens in real terms."
She went on to emphasize the unique approach Japan brings to partnership:
"Japan’s focus on understanding the essence of the issues, along with its deep respect for Egypt’s national context and the efforts of its people, has led to the development of a strong relationship of trust."

When asked about standout projects, she responded:
"The flagship project that we are all anticipating is the Grand Egyptian Museum. It’s a project which does not only symbolize the development relationship between Egypt and Japan but also how this relationship has and will shape the cultural landscape globally."

One of the symbols of JICA’s cooperation is its support for the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). The museum is scheduled for its full opening in November 2025 and is attracting international attention.

Through financial and technical support, Japan has provided extensive support — from the construction of the museum to technical cooperation covering the transportation and conservation of artifacts, restoration work, exhibition planning, and even the establishment of the museum’s operational framework.

Egypt is actively engaged in JICA’s "Third Country Training Program," in which it hosts trainees from other developing countries. In fields such as healthcare and agriculture, Egypt has accepted many participants from various nations. By sharing the knowledge and skills it has acquired from Japan, Egypt has positioned itself as a hub for disseminating expertise throughout the Middle East and Africa, playing a key role in supporting the development of the broader region. Mr. Hara highlighted the effectiveness of the Third Country Training Program by recalling an episode from his time stationed in Iraq, when Iraqi trainees participated in JICA training held in Egypt.

In response, Minister Al-Mashat expressed strong interest, stating, "We are eager to continue working with JICA through the Third Country Training Program to support institutional design and human resource development in other countries."

Currently, cooperation between the two countries is expanding into areas such as private investment and technological innovation.

Minister Al-Mashat stated, "Japan’s cooperation has produced tangible results, particularly contributing significantly to Egypt’s industrialization and the expansion of its exports." She also emphasized, "The foundation of trust we have built so far is extremely strong. Moving forward, we hope to see more Japanese companies enter the Egyptian market."

The stability of the Egyptian market, combined with the solid track record of bilateral cooperation, is encouraging Japanese companies to expand their presence not only in Egypt but also across the broader Middle East and Africa region.

Covering this dialogue, what struck me the most was the deep trust cultivated between Japan and Egypt over the decades. Beyond technical or financial support, the core of their partnership lies in Japan’s respectful, empathetic approach—listening, understanding, and walking alongside Egypt as an equal partner. That is what has sustained this relationship for 70 years.

The fact that Japan has been entrusted with supporting the key education sector and collaborating on the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)—now a national symbol—serves as clear evidence of the deep trust from Egypt. Stationed here in Egypt as part of my OJT, I see daily the high regard, warmth, and friendly sentiment Egyptians feel toward Japan. The upcoming November opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum is a nationally significant event drawing global attention, and it clearly demonstrates the immense trust placed in Japan's cooperation.

With Egypt’s population surpassing 100 million and its growing role as a hub in the Middle East and Africa, the seeds of cooperation sown decades ago have firmly taken root and are now beginning to truly blossom. On the very grounds where Japanese envoys first set foot more than 150 years ago, the future of the Japan–Egypt partnership is unfolding.