WIREDGOV

The Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry sign Memoranda of Understanding.

The Foreign Secretary and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing the Home Office and Egyptian Ministry of Interior to a regular high-level dialogue to increase cooperation across a wide range of areas, including counter-terrorism, illegal migration and organised crime.

The Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister also signed a MoU on cooperation across research, innovation, health training, cultural collaboration, and higher education. Under the agreement, the UK and Egypt will establish an Egyptian Higher Education Regulatory and Funding Agency (HERFA) based on UK experience, a partnership with Cambridge Assessment on examination standards, and a development programme for leaders in Egyptian universities. The agreement also commits the UK and Egypt to share best practice in Heritage Science and vocational training, and increases support on health education and medical training for Egyptian health professionals.

The Foreign Secretary said:

These wide-ranging Memoranda of Understanding will launch a new stage in our British-Egyptian partnership for stability and reform.

On security, in recognition of our shared interests in countering terrorism, illegal migration, and organised crime, Home Office officials and their Egyptian counterparts will engage in a regular and strategic dialogue to foster greater collaboration in these areas, which are of vital importance to both our countries.

In a clear commitment to Egypt’s young people and their country’s future, we will cooperate more closely to help transform Egypt’s higher education sector. This builds on our already extensive cooperation with Egypt, including the £23.8m Newton-Mosharafa Fund, which will bring the benefits of a British education to over 300 Egyptian PhD students over the next 5 years.

Further information

Follow the Foreign Secretary on Twitter: @PHammondMP.

Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter.

Follow the Foreign Office on Facebook & Google+.

Media enquiries

Email newsdesk@fco.gov.uk

News Desk 020 7008 3100