By Mary Mae Balasanos
United Kingdom Trade Envoy to Egypt Yasmin Qureshi has reiterated the commitment to boosting ties with Egypt in the transport and industrial sectors, following a meeting with Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir.
Al-Wazir reviewed transportation projects with British corporations during the conference, giving light to the Monorail project as one of Egypt’s most important modern and eco-friendly mass transit projects, as reported by the Daily News Egypt.
In an effort to maintain the system, supply replacement parts and address any operational issues, he emphasised the necessity of ongoing British assistance.
British businesses that are present in Egypt, as well as those aiming to increase their footprint, were discussed.
These include Polar Hydro, which intends to build a waste recycling and energy conversion facility, and Blue Sky, a company that specialises in exporting processed fruit to the UK and Europe.
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Environment high on the agenda
Among the initiatives Al-Wazier reiterated are the generation of green hydrogen, wastewater treatment, wind and solar energy and saltwater desalination.
The Egyptian minister emphasised how British expertise may be helpful in these fields, supporting Egypt’s objective of lowering its dependency on fossil resources.
Meanwhile, Qureshi commended Egypt’s quick urban growth, pointing out the New Administrative Capital, roads, and construction in particular.
In keeping with the UK’s commitment to sustainability and climate change, she outlined her intent to present Egypt’s selected industrial sectors to British corporations and the government, with an emphasis on renewable energy.
Al-Wazir underlined the longstanding relationship between Egypt and the UK and restated Egypt’s resolve to further co-operate.
Egypt-UK ties
Egypt and the UK have close economic, military, and diplomatic relations, but Egypt is one of the nations that the UK prioritises for improvements in human rights.
The UK has expressed concerns over Egypt’s use of the death sentence, its restrictions on free speech, and the imprisonment of British-Egyptian Alaa Abd El-Fattah.
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Geoffrey H. Latayan 
Vivien Bernardino