Petit Parisien - Egypt's Petroleum Minister Represents Sisi at Francophonie Summit in Cambodia

Egyptian Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi has led his country’s delegation to the opening of the 20th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Acting on behalf of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Badawi participated in the proceedings alongside leaders and government representatives from the organization’s 90 member countries.

The summit, held under the theme “Investing in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Lasting Stability,” aims to strengthen cooperation and solidarity among member states while intensifying joint efforts to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development. During the event, Cambodia assumed the organization’s rotating presidency from France for a two-year term, which will extend until the next summit in 2028.

The opening ceremony was attended by prominent international figures, including Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and OIF Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo. Following the ceremony, Badawi headed Egypt’s delegation into sessions reviewing the outcomes of the organization’s ministerial conference and discussing the Secretary-General’s report.

A central focus of Egypt’s participation has been on expanding economic and energy ties. On the sidelines of the summit, Badawi held a series of bilateral meetings with heads of state and senior officials to discuss opportunities for cooperation, particularly in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.

In a key diplomatic engagement, Badawi met with French President Emmanuel Macron. During the discussion, he conveyed greetings from President Al-Sisi and reaffirmed the strength of Egyptian-French relations. The two leaders highlighted their longstanding partnership and close cooperation across various fields. They also addressed the importance of maintaining coordination between Cairo and Paris, expanding bilateral cooperation, and utilizing frameworks available through the OIF to promote dialogue among member countries.

Badawi also held talks with Moroccan Head of Government Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri. The discussions focused on the historical and fraternal ties between Egypt and Morocco, exploring ways to build on existing cooperation and strengthen partnerships in sectors such as energy, oil, and gas.

Further bilateral engagements included meetings with Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Xavier Bettel. The two sides discussed opportunities to expand economic cooperation and prospects for collaboration in the energy sector. Badawi also met with Gabonese Foreign Minister Marie-Edith Tassyla to discuss advancing bilateral relations and broadening cooperation in oil, natural gas, and mining. Additionally, he held discussions with Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs Morissanda Kouyaté regarding strengthening cooperation between Egypt and Guinea.

On the diplomatic front, Badawi met with OIF Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo to discuss cooperation between Egypt and the organization. They reviewed Egypt’s active role in supporting joint initiatives that advance the OIF’s objectives and address the aspirations of its member countries. The minister also held talks with Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), on the sidelines of the summit.

Badawi is participating in the summit’s thematic plenary and closed sessions over two days, presenting Egypt’s positions on issues under discussion, efforts to promote peace and stability, and initiatives to support sustainable development. He emphasized the importance of making greater use of cooperation mechanisms and joint initiatives within the OIF framework.

Egypt’s participation in the summit reflects its commitment to maintaining an active role within the OIF, strengthening relations with member countries, and expanding cooperation in political, economic, and investment fields to advance shared interests and create new partnership opportunities. Badawi was accompanied by Egypt’s Ambassador to Thailand and Cambodia, Hala Youssef, during these diplomatic engagements.

L.Marion--PP