By Manal Abdel Fattah
Ambassador Yvonne Baumann, Ambassador of Switzerland to Egypt, met with Ambassador Soha Gendy, Minister of State for Immigration and Egyptian Affairs Abroad, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation on common files.
In her speech, Ambassador Yvonne Baumann, Swiss Ambassador to Cairo, praised the level of distinguished relations between Egypt and Switzerland, stressing her aspiration to sign a declaration of cooperation in the field of immigration between the two sides.
Ambassador Bauman stressed the importance of continuing cooperation in implementing joint projects between the two countries, appreciating the role of the Ministry of Immigration in following up and caring for Egyptian communities abroad, and looking forward to more bilateral cooperation in the next phase with regard to immigration files, especially with regard to combating illegal immigration, integrating returnees and training for recruitment.
For her part, Ambassador Soha Gendi, Minister of Immigration, welcomed the Swiss Ambassador, praising the good relations between Egypt and Switzerland in several fields, and noting the presence of a distinguished Egyptian community in Switzerland.
The Minister reviewed the role and efforts of the Ministry of Immigration since its return by presidential decree, and said that the state was keen to build a base of Egyptians abroad that would support its vision and transfer the true picture at home abroad, and that the Ministry meets the needs of about 14 million Egyptian citizens around the world, in reference to the strategy The Ministry of Immigration aims to communicate with all segments of Egyptians abroad, to solve any problems or challenges facing Egyptians abroad, explaining that the Ministry of Immigration worked to provide a group of incentives during the last period for the benefit of our citizens abroad, stressing the right of Egyptians abroad to obtain many of them.
Ambassador Soha Gendi also stated that this year witnessed more global crises, armed conflicts and disasters, in addition to the natural crises resulting from the phenomenon of climate change and leading to more earthquakes and hurricanes, which led to the intervention of the Ministry of Immigration out of concern for the lives of the countrymen abroad who reside in Countries suffer from these phenomena, an affirmation of the strength of the state and its concern for its children and their lives. The crises of the Russian-Ukrainian and Sudanese wars, the earthquakes in Turkey, Syria and Morocco, Hurricane Daniel in Libya, and the war in Gaza were dealt with, in addition to individual crises and incidents of Egyptians abroad that the Ministry intervenes directly to resolve.
Ambassador Soha Gendy also reviewed the strategy for combating illegal immigration and integrating returnees from abroad into their homelands and communities, including the possibility of cooperation in the field of training, qualification, vocational education, and exchange of experiences, especially since there are skilled Egyptian cadres in several fields, including doctors, engineers, and university professors, pointing to the efforts The Ministry is concerned with the issue of combating illegal immigration, through several methods, including awareness-raising as well as training for employment, through the Egyptian-German Center for Jobs, Immigration and Reintegration, which works to train and qualify Egyptian youth for the European labor market in accordance with the highest international standards and levels, and what the needs of these people require. markets, as well as looking forward to expanding this idea and applying it with a number of countries.
The meeting was attended by Ambassador Amr Abbas, Assistant Minister of Immigration for Communities Affairs, Sarah Mamoun, Assistant Minister of Immigration for Projects and International Cooperation, and Doaa Qadri, Head of the Central Administration for the Affairs of the Minister’s Office.
