Ashraf Abo Arafe
The new-named spokesperson, Mr Ahmed Hafithe stated that today the foreign minister met members of Japan-Egypt Parliamentary Friendship Association chaired by Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso.
During the meeting, Shoukry lauded the development witnessed in Cairo-Tokyo parliamentary relations over the past years, stressing Egypt’s keenness to develop them. The Foreign Minister reviewed the latest developments of Egypt’s economic reform program.
The FM also pointed out to several positive economic indicators, such as the expected rise in economic growth rate this year, the decline in total budget deficit in addition to the slump witnessed in unemployment rates. In the same respect, Shoukry noted that foreign investments in Egypt surged to $10 billion in fiscal year 2017/2018 and foreign reserves increased to $44.1 billion during the current fiscal year, compared to some $18 billion in 2014.
In addition, the foreign minister also expounded the latest developments with regard to the establishment of the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Japanese support provided.
