Switzerland has said it would finance a project to hone the technical skills of 500 young people in Egypt to enhance their chances on the labour market.
In a statement, the Swiss Embassy in Cairo said the project, to be carried out in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, would be launched Monday 24 September.
The project will boost the Elsewedy Technical Academy (STA) in the 10th of Ramadan city by helping expand its programmes, train teachers, and upgrade examination systems. Currently, some 200 students are enrolled with STA; the goal is to bring the number up to 500 and to include more women.
Swiss Ambassador to Egypt Paul Garnier said that filling the gap between technical education and the labour market would help create a strong middle class in Egypt.
He said the project was an example of effective partnership with the private sector to enhance employment chances of young people in the technical domain.
The project is part of the 2017/2020 strategy of Swiss-Egyptian cooperation.
“Switzerland’s decision to extend its joint projects in Egypt for four more years, from 2017 to 2020, shows its commitment and continuous support to various dimensions of Egypt’s reform agenda as set out in the country’s 2030 vision,” said Mr Garnier.
Egypt is Switzerland’s third biggest trading partner in Africa and its fourth biggest trading partner in the Middle East and North Africa region. Total volume of trade between the two countries stood at 1.3 billion Swiss francs in 2016. Swiss private-sector investments in Egypt stood at 1.8 billion Swiss francs in 2015.
Watani International
23 September 2018