Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, received Ambassador Sergei Rachkov, Ambassador of Belarus in Cairo; To discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of science, technology and innovation. The Minister pointed out that this meeting is a great opportunity to discuss ways of cooperation between Egyptian and Belarusian higher education institutions, as well as strengthening the scientific research system in both countries, stressing the importance of cooperation with distinguished research institutions around the world to benefit the process of scientific research in Egypt.

The meeting discussed prospects for cooperation between the two sides in the fields of (medicine, information technology, artificial intelligence, applied mathematics, etc.), and investment in higher education, through establishing branches of Belarusian universities in Egypt, granting joint academic degrees, as well as designing modern study programs that serve labor market, and providing training and qualification for students.

Dr. Ayman Ashour expressed his aspiration to strengthen cooperation with Belarus and benefit from some of its existing expertise in the field of manufacturing, information technology, training and modernization of some industries, as linking industry with scientific research represents one of the priorities of the ministry’s work during the current period.

For his part, Ambassador Sergei Rachkov expressed his happiness with this meeting, which supports relations between the two countries, indicating his country’s aspiration towards more constructive cooperation with Egypt, to serve areas of mutual interest, stressing the increasing volume of cooperation between Egyptian and Belarusian universities recently, reviewing areas of cooperation with universities (Cairo, Ain Shams, Helwan, Kafr El-Sheikh), as well as conducting a cooperation protocol with Beni Suef Technological University; With the aim of localizing agricultural information technology programs, in addition to cooperating with the Academy of Scientific and Technological Research in many research activities and projects.

Sergei Rachkov also valued the existing cooperation between Belarus and Egyptian higher education institutions, praising Egypt’s major reforms and its steady progress in developing the higher education and scientific research system during the past period, considering that Egypt is a gateway to African countries, stressing his country’s keenness to strengthen cooperation relations with Egypt.