Egypt Minister Meets with Council on Competitiveness, Signs Cooperative Agreement

WASHINGTON—Today Egypt’s Minister for Trade and Industry H. E. Rachid Mohamed Rachid and Council on Competitiveness President Deborah L. Wince-Smith signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Egypt and the United States. This agreement will initiate public and private sector partnerships to tackle major competitiveness issues such as trade policies, job growth, human capital development, and science and technology innovation.

President Obama will be in Egypt next week to meet with President Mubarak and to discuss the importance of U.S. engagement with critical partners in the region. 

“We are opening a new page in the relationship between Egypt and the United States with a new administration that is clearly trying to engage at a higher level and clearly trying to play a positive role in our part of the world,” said Minister Rachid. “I am sure that the project that we are starting here will be an important contribution to that new chapter of the American-Egyptian relationship.” (Watch Minster Rachid’s Remarks)

“At the Council on Competitiveness we believe this opportunity has the tremendous power to enhance the prosperity of both of our nations, as well as wider regions and the world,” said Wince-Smith. “We have a shared commitment to innovation, to rising productivity, to driving high standards of living for all of our citizens, and to being leaders in international engagement. (Watch Wince-Smith’s Remarks)

On September 25, 2009, in Washington, the Council will launch a network of the leaders of Competitiveness Councils from around the world. This “Council of Councils” will bring together existing national competitiveness organizations, stimulate the creation of new ones, and foster ongoing national and global collaboration.

View more videos from today’s event on CompeteTV.