Wednesday, 27 May 2026
French Ambassador Éric Chevallier
France and Egypt deepen cooperation in health, education, economy
France and Egypt are entering a new era of cooperation after French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent state visit to Cairo, highlighting the deepening and enduring ties between the two countries.
At a press conference in Cairo, French Ambassador Éric Chevallier described the relationship between France and Egypt as "close and strong," emphasizing a great alignment between Paris and Cairo on regional issues. The ambassador presented the outcomes of President Macron’s visit, which came at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, underscoring the strong bond between both nations.
A major highlight of the visit was the signing of a landmark Strategic Partnership Agreement by the two presidents. According to Ambassador Chevallier, this agreement takes bilateral relations to a higher level, charting "a roadmap for the future of cooperation and giving top priority to this relationship."
The visit also saw the conclusion of numerous agreements covering health, education, scientific research, and sports. One of the most notable is the plan to establish a branch of the world-renowned Gustave Roussy cancer treatment institute in Egypt, which is expected to bring advanced oncology care to the region.
Educational collaboration received a significant boost, with the signing of 40 agreements between French and Egyptian universities and research centers in fields such as medicine, engineering, artificial intelligence, and architecture. There are also plans to expand the number of Francophone schools in Egypt from 69 to 100 in the coming years.
In the field of sports, a new partnership has been struck between the French and Egyptian football associations to support the development of football in Egypt, with a special focus on women’s and youth teams—particularly for girls under 20. Ambassador Chevallier highlighted this as "a clear message on equality of opportunity and rights between genders in Egypt."
French companies are expected to expand their presence in Egypt, which the ambassador said would help create new jobs and increase Egyptian exports, providing vital support for Egypt’s national economy.
On a financial level, France played an instrumental role in supporting Egypt’s recent approval by the European Union to receive a second tranche of EU financial aid, as well as securing a €6 billion package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the EU. Ambassador Chevallier reaffirmed that France considers Egypt’s stability and prosperity crucial not only for Egyptians and the wider region, but also for France, given their shared Mediterranean neighborhood.
"France is determined to provide all forms of support to Egypt—bilaterally, at the European level, and through multilateral cooperation," the ambassador stressed. He clarified that major financial decisions are ultimately made by entities like the EU and IMF, but "France provided strong support for Egypt in this regard and stands ready to continue this assistance."
With these new agreements and reaffirmed commitments, the relationship between France and Egypt continues to move towards deeper cooperation, promising mutual benefit for both societies and enhanced stability in the region.