Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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ECOWAS strengthens mediation, negotiation and conflict resolution capacities of its senior officials at the Clingendael Institute of international relations in the Netherlands.

From 27 to 31 October 2025, in The Hague, Kingdom of the Netherlands, senior officials, Special Representatives, Resident and Permanent Representatives, Members of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at ambassadorial level, as well as Members of the ECOWAS Council of the Wise, participated in an advanced capacity-building programme on negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution. The training formed part of the 10th Edition of the Clingendael Academy Programme on Peace Negotiations and was organised by the Netherlands Institute of International Relations “Clingendael”, with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Throughout the five-day programme, participants strengthened their practical understanding of the principles and processes of negotiation and mediation, including the qualities of effective negotiators and mediators, the strategic application of mediation support, and approaches for building consensus among parties with diverse interests, values and beliefs. The training further provided insights into the distinctions between negotiation and mediation, the objectives and phases of mediation, and the contribution of mediation to sustainable peace outcomes.

The sessions also offered an opportunity to reflect on ECOWAS’ mediation engagements from a comparative perspective, highlighting achievements, challenges and lessons learnt to inform future interventions. Scenario-building exercises and group simulations enabled participants to analyse key conflict drivers, assess uncertainties, and develop scenario matrices to support informed planning and response strategies in mediation processes.

ECOWAS and the Clingendael Academy have collaborated since 2015 to strengthen the Commission’s regional conflict prevention and resolution capacities. Training approximately 750 diplomats and 2,500 professionals annually, the Clingendael Academy is recognised as one of the world’s leading independent diplomatic training institutions. By preparing practitioners to operate effectively in complex and politically sensitive international environments, it equips diplomats, mediators, peacebuilding practitioners, humanitarian personnel, civil society actors and government officials with the skills required to deliver impactful and sustainable peace efforts across the region and beyond.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO

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H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, met with H.E. Dr. Amer Bisat, Minister of Economy and Trade of the Republic of Lebanon, to discuss avenues of joint cooperation within the activities of the Egyptian-Lebanese Joint Higher Committee in its 10th session, co-chaired by the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation and the Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade.

At the beginning of the meeting, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat affirmed the depth and distinguished nature of Egyptian-Lebanese relations, as well as the political understanding at the summit level between the leaderships of both countries. She also highlighted the directives of the political leadership to continue developing and strengthening cooperation between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Lebanon across all fields, with a particular focus on enhancing economic and trade relations between the two nations.

H.E. emphasized the interest of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, in advancing cooperative relations with the Republic of Lebanon and elevating them to the level of strategic partnership. She stressed the government’s keenness to convene the 10th session of the Egyptian-Lebanese Joint Higher Committee and to ensure the regularity of its meetings, as it represents the most significant mechanism for coordinating economic policies and promoting cooperation between the two countries.

Dr. Al-Mashat noted that holding the 10th session of the Egyptian-Lebanese Joint Higher Committee will open broader prospects for cooperation in light of both countries’ commitment to promoting joint development. She reaffirmed Egypt’s support for its sister nation, Lebanon, in its efforts to restore security, stability, and development. The Minister also highlighted that the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation will collaborate with the Lebanese side to enhance efforts to exchange expertise in economic and development policymaking, as well as in the fields of planning, development, and international cooperation.

H.E. further underscored the readiness of Egyptian companies—with their extensive experience and proven capabilities—to contribute to Lebanon’s reconstruction process. She pointed out that Egyptian companies have successfully participated in the implementation of major national projects, including the establishment of industrial and agricultural zones, modern urban communities, and numerous fourth-generation and smart cities.

For his part, H.E. Dr. Amer Bisat, Minister of Economy and Trade of the Republic of Lebanon, affirmed his country’s keenness to expand the scope of cooperation with Egypt and to benefit from its successful development experience. He also extended an invitation to H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat to participate in the First Beirut Investment Conference, scheduled to be held this November, aimed at stimulating investment in the Lebanese economy and discussing key related issues.

Both ministers emphasized the importance of continued coordination to follow up on the implementation of the outcomes of the 10th session of the Committee, and to strengthen cooperation between the relevant entities in both countries—reflecting positively on the development and deepening of bilateral relations.

It is worth noting that the 9th session of the Committee witnessed the signing of four documents in the fields of tax expertise exchange, communications and information technology, investment promotion, and the import of Egyptian building materials. In this context, trade exchange between the two countries reached $1 billion in 2024, compared to $774 million in 2023—an increase of 29.3%.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.

Source: APO

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H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, signed an agreement with H.E. Mr. Juraj Blanár, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, to establish a Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation between the two countries. This took place during the Slovak Minister’s visit to Egypt to attend the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum. The agreement comes in light of the two countries’ keenness to expand the scope of economic partnership and explore more areas of cooperation, which will reflect on developing relations to meet shared priorities.

During the signing ceremony, the two ministers held a joint discussion session. They emphasized the importance of the Joint Committee Agreement for Economic Cooperation, as it will lead to an increase in areas of cooperation between the two countries, in light of the strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union, and the recent development of relations, which was embodied in the first Egyptian-European Summit recently held in Brussels. This summit was an extension of the continuous momentum in the joint relations since March 2024.

The meeting discussed the date for the first session of the Egyptian-Slovak Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation, and the commitment to utilizing this committee to form an effective framework for cooperation that maximizes the benefit from the substantial economic potential in both countries, and the available opportunities to advance the partnership, particularly in increasing joint investments and boosting the number of tourists arriving in Egypt, specially after the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is the largest museum in the world showcasing artifacts of a single civilization. This is in addition to supporting national priorities in industrial localization and private sector empowerment.

In this context, the Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation reaffirmed that Egypt cherishes its relationship with the friendly country of Slovakia, which began in the nineties of the last century. Dr. Al-Mashat added that within the framework of the evolving Egyptian-European relations, the partnership with Slovakia is of great importance given its growing role within the European Union and its endeavor to strengthen its relations with countries in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Minister Al-Mashat said that she looks forward for the Joint Committee to build upon the achievements in economic relations between the two countries, to contribute to increasing the volume of trade exchange, developing relations with the private sector, and increasing investments, particularly in the areas of industrial localization and exchange of expertise, in addition to coordinating joint economic stances in international forums. She stressed that the current volume of investments and trade exchange rates do not meet the aspirations of the two countries nor do they reflect their true potential.

For his part, the Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated that Slovakia is working to intensify dialogue with Global South and African countries, which are receiving attention from Slovak entrepreneurs, and that Egypt holds an important position with Slovakia.

The Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned that the signing of the Economic Cooperation Agreement represents a significant step to strengthen joint relations, as it provides a new governmental framework for bilateral cooperation between the two countries and contributes to increasing the volume of trade exchange.

It is worth noting that the Egyptian market includes about 45 Slovak companies with investments exceeding $560 million in the fields of tourism, services, industry, construction, telecommunications, agriculture, and information technology. Furthermore, the number of tourists arriving in Egypt from Slovakia in 2024 reached about 1.4 million tourists, reflecting the strength of tourism relations and the inbound flows from the Slovak market to Egypt. Meanwhile, the volume of trade exchange between the two countries is about $340.4 million. Slovakia’s exports to Egypt are concentrated in the industrial and transport sectors, such as vehicles, machinery, and equipment, while Egyptian exports to Slovakia are more diverse and include a large percentage of electronics, in addition to rubber products, fireworks, and others.

It is noteworthy that the Joint Committees mechanism is one of the main mechanisms through which Egypt seeks to enhance economic, commercial, and investment relations, as well as cultural, scientific, and technical cooperation with sisterly and friendly countries. The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation supervises approximately 55 joint committees between Egypt and many countries from various continents around the world.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.