Written by: Qusay Ahmed

Ambassador Mohamed Karim Sharif, Assistant Minister Foreign Ministry The African Affairs Department held a briefing session for the ambassadors of the African Group accredited to Cairo, during which it discussed the developments taking place in the region, and the tireless Egyptian efforts to reduce escalation.

The Assistant Foreign Minister reviewed the Egyptian vision regarding the rapid and successive developments taking place in the region, and their direct repercussions on various countries of the world, specifically African countries, and the need for joint African action and coordination to enhance the ability to deal with them, highlighting the Egyptian efforts to deal with the various crises in the region, and Egypt’s emphasis on the importance of prioritizing the diplomatic track as the only option to address the crises in the region, and not allowing current developments to encroach on files such as the Palestinian issue, Lebanon, Sudan, and the Sahel region.

African appreciation

For their part, the African ambassadors stressed their appreciation for this initiative to inform them of the current developments in the region in light of its direct and indirect effects on the African continent, and what is related to it in terms of fuel, gas and food supplies, and its repercussions on the continuation of crises and armed conflicts on the continent.

At the conclusion of the meeting, emphasis was placed on the importance of concerted African efforts and joint action to address the repercussions of the tensions raging in the region.

Regarding Egyptian cooperation with African countries, Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad, earlier received Dr. Hisham Steit, Chairman of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical Supply and Logistics and Medical Technology Management, to discuss ways to enhance joint cooperation in supporting the health security system and expanding access to Egyptian medicines and medical supplies to foreign markets, especially in the African continent.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Abdel-Aati affirmed that the pharmaceutical and medical supplies sector represents one of the main pillars for strengthening Egyptian cooperation with African countries, in light of Egypt’s advanced industrial capabilities and regulatory expertise, pointing to the importance of building on the progress achieved in developing the national pharmaceutical system.

Actual needs of African markets

It also enables African countries to obtain preferential advantages in purchasing medical supplies and medicines, in addition to providing an opportunity to learn about the actual needs of African markets, which supports Egypt’s ability to meet those needs and enhances its role as a regional center for medical and pharmaceutical industries and contributes to achieving regional and continental health security.

For his part, Dr. Hisham Steit reviewed the Authority's efforts to develop the unified procurement system and enhance the efficiency of medical resource management, as well as supporting the localization of medical industries and strengthening the state's readiness to deal with health crises, noting the keenness to expand areas of cooperation with African partners, in a way that supports achieving common health security.

Collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The two sides also discussed the importance of continuing to strengthen cooperation with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, in support of continental efforts in the areas of epidemic response and strengthening the readiness of health systems, and the ongoing preparations for the next edition of the African Health ExCon, as a pivotal platform to promote partnerships between governments and the private sector, support integration in the fields of medical and pharmaceutical industries at the continental level, as well as promote the exchange of experiences, develop procurement and supply systems, and enhance the ability of African countries to respond to health emergencies.