Rabat – Egypt and Morocco seek to activate cultural cooperation mechanisms through the exchange of expertise in the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage.
Morocco’s Minister of Culture, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, held high-level meetings in Cairo on the sidelines of the first session of the Moroccan-Egyptian Coordination on Monday.
The goal of the meeting was to “inject new momentum into the historic partnership” between the two countries in the fields of culture and youth, a statement from the ministry read.
The press release stressed that both Egyptian and Moroccan officials emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Gihane Zaki, the Egyptian Minister of Culture, held a meeting with Bensaid with decisions focused on activating cultural cooperation mechanisms through the exchange of expertise in the restoration and preservation of tangible and intangible heritage.
Morocco and Egypt also seek to boost mutual participation in major cultural events, examining also ways to facilitate joint production and ease the work of professionals in the cinema and creative arts sector.
Additionally, Bensaid held a meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sports in Egypt, Gohar Nabil, with the discussion centring on developing joint youth work.
The engagement aimed to facilitate the exchange of management models for training, youth, innovation centers, and the strengthening of youth diplomacy, while supporting pioneering initiatives and startups in youth-related fields.
On Sunday, Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch arrived in Cairo.
Akhannouch is heading a high-level delegation to inaugurate the first session of the Egypt-Morocco Joint Coordination and Follow-up Committee.
The delegation accompanying Akhannouch includes Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah, Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka, and Minister of Agriculture, Ahmed Bouari.
The delegation also features Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Youth Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister Delegate in charge of Investment Karim Zaidan, as well as Morocco’s Ambassador to Egypt Mohamed Ait Ouali.
Beyond culture, both countries have been pledging determination to boost relations at all levels, including trade.
Last year, Morocco shared its ambition to increase its exports to Egypt, with officials projecting a jump from MAD 755 million ($75 million) to MAD 5 billion ($500 million) within the next three years.