On March 4, 2025, Egypt’s Minister of Labor Mohamed Jabran convened with Prime Minister Dr. Mustafa Madbouly and key representatives from the German Agency for International Cooperation, including its head, Regine Collmann, at the ministry's headquarters located in the new administrative capital. This pivotal meeting aimed to bolster cooperation between Egypt and Germany, particularly focusing on enhancing employment opportunities for the youth through strategic initiatives and vocational training programs.
During the gathering, Minister Jabran expressed his enthusiasm about intensifying collaboration with the German Agency, saying, "I welcome the intensification of cooperation with the German Agency for International Cooperation, especially on common areas of interest." His note reflected the importance of addressing pressing youth unemployment issues through partnerships with international bodies.
The session featured insightful presentations on the main activities and objectives of the project focused on helping young people enter the labor market effectively. It aims to improve job conditions for youth by increasing the strategic and technical capabilities of the ministry’s central administration concerning future employment policies and initiatives. Minister Jabran pointed out, "We aim to improve the conditions for young people's entry to jobs," highlighting the project's significance.
This ambitious project will be implemented over three and a half years across the Greater Cairo and Alexandria governorates, collaborating with both local and international partners. The goal is to develop comprehensive frameworks for vocational training, ensuring young Egyptians are adequately prepared to meet the needs of both domestic and international labor markets. The discussions also included topics such as enhancing technical skills for employees responsible for improving women's access to the labor market, which remains a key focus of the project.
To achieve these goals, the project outlines several strategic objectives. This includes offering digital solutions to increase employment management effectiveness, broadening vocational training services targeted at specific demographics, and prioritizing skills development for women seeking to enter the workforce. Emphasis was placed on ensuring equality of opportunity within these training programs, reinforcing the ministry’s commitment to gender inclusivity.
There were also extensive talks about the need to expand the services available to companies, aimed at facilitating appropriate job placements through carefully selected providers from the public and private sectors. These initiatives underline the ministry’s goal of creating more accessible and equitable employment opportunities for all Egyptians.
This meeting's successful outcomes demonstrated the Egyptian government's proactive stance on addressing labor market challenges, particularly the barriers youth face when seeking employment. The presence of several key officials from the Ministry of Labor, including the legal advisor Ihab Abdel-Aati and Rasha Abdel-Basset, the head of the central administration for international relations, signified the serious commitment of Egypt’s leadership to revitalize its employment strategies.
Minister Jabran’s remarks during this meeting set the tone for future engagements, emphasizing the necessity of coordinated efforts to bridge the gap between job seekers and the workforce demands. Following up on this meeting, Jabran directed all parties involved to initiate regular coordination sessions to formulate actionable plans and timelines for the project’s execution.
The collaboration with the German Agency for International Cooperation is expected to significantly impact Egypt’s approach to youth employment by infusing global best practices and innovative solutions to local issues. By focusing on training initiatives and strategic partnerships, the Ministry of Labor aims to equip young people with the skills necessary to thrive, fostering economic growth and stability for the future.
Through continued support and engagement with international partners, Egypt seeks to transform its labor market and create sustainable pathways for its youth. This meeting marks another step toward realizing those ambitious targets, reinforcing the commitment among stakeholders to pave the way for effective employment strategies.