Egypt and United States signed on Wednesday five agreements for grants worth $45 million to finance projects in the North African country in agriculture, higher education, science and technology, health, and governance sectors. Egyptian Minister of Investment Sahar Nasr signed the agreements with Sherry Carlin, mission director of the U.S. Agency for International Development – Egypt (USAID Egypt) at a meeting in Cairo. The deals span a raft of financial assistance packages including $5 million for Egypt's Ministry of Health to support the country's Family Planning and Reproductive Health Programme. The second agreement include a $27 million grant for Egypt's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, aiming to build a skilled workforce for market needs. The two countries also signed a $4 million agreement for Egypt's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, aiming at bolstering bilateral cooperation in the peaceful uses of scientific and technological sectors. U.S. also signed a fourth agreement worth $3.5 million for Egypt's Ministry of Agriculture to support agricultural projects and businesses in Upper Egyptian cities, Beni Suef, Menya, Assiut, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, and Aswan. The fifth and final agreement is valued at $5.3 million in favour of Egypt's Ministries of Justice and Social Solidarity as well as the National Council for Women and the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood. It aims to support Egypt's efforts to combat violence against women in all its forms, strengthen the rule of law, and increase citizens' engagements in elections.
