The Minister of Higher Education of the Egyptian government, Ayman Ashour, and his Somali counterpart, Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir, have signed an agreement in Cairo, Egypt on the higher education cooperation program from 2023 to 2026.
The purpose of the agreement is to promote cooperation between higher education institutions in Egypt and Somalia and to exchange educational delegations, according to a press release.
Egypt will further give 450 scholarships to Somali students every year, the minister noted.
He added that according to the agreement the two countries will establish research groups.
In addition, Egypt is willing to provide Somalia with experts and doctors to renovate the Somali National University and its medical college.
Egyptian Minister of Culture Nevine Al-Kilani and Somali counterpart, Daud Aweis Jama, signed a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation.
According to the memorandum of understanding, the two parties will hold exhibitions of fine arts, cultural arts and festivals and organize visits for artists in the fields of theater, music and literature.
In addition, Egypt and Somalia will promote cooperation in cinema by exchanging films and visits by those working in the field of cinema.
Somalia is also welcome to participate in the book fair held every year in Egypt, said Al-Kilani.
The two sides also agreed to hold cultural weeks and translate Somali literature to Arabic literature, while Arabic literature will be translated to Somali language literature.
Another agreement was signed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Egypt and the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Somalia.
The agreement, which will last until 2026 is primarily aimed at promoting cooperation between the ministries of the two countries in the fields of culture and religion.
According to the memorandum of understanding, the two parties will exchange invitations to participate in international Quran competitions. The Egyptian side will also provide the Somali side with the documents of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs.
The Egyptian Ministry will also offer scholarships to a number of Somali students under the admission requirements of Al-Azhar. Somali imams and preachers will also receive training at the International Awqaf Academy.
