Luis Ayllón
The Egyptian ambassador in Madrid, Ehab Badaway, praised Spain’s position in support of the Palestinian cause, during his speech at the reception offered at his residence to celebrate Egypt’s National Day.
The reception, which took place last Wednesday, was attended by numerous ambassadors, especially from countries in the Arab world, as well as a large representation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: the general director for the Maghreb, Mediterranean and Middle East, Carmen Magariños; the deputy director general of the Middle East, Pablo Pérez Guerreira; the deputy deputy director general of the Middle East, Emilio Contreras; and the deputy deputy director general of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Juan Lugo; along with the directors of Casa Arabe, Irene Lozano; and from Casa Mediterráneo, Andrés Perelló.
Ehab Badaway, who took up his position as ambassador at the beginning of last June, gave a speech in which he highlighted that Egypt has embarked “on a journey of transformation” that includes ambitious reforms such as the new Administrative capital or the Zone Economic of the Suez Canal. “Egypt is evolving into a hub of innovation, trade and investment, poised to play an important role on the global stage,” he said, adding that the relationship with Spain “is a vital component of this vision.”
The ambassador noted that bilateral relations have flourished and cover various fields such as transportation, tourism, trade, education and scientific cooperation. Specifically, he highlighted cooperation in transportation with the presence of the Spanish companies Talgo, Thales, CAF and Alstom Spain, as well as in the energy sector, with investments in renewable energy projects, particularly in solar and wind energy. Thus, he highlighted that the wind energy project in the Ras Ghareb area is considered the largest wind power plant in Egypt with a production capacity of 260 megawatts, which was started in 2019 in collaboration with Siemens Gamesa.
On the other hand, the ambassador assured that, taking advantage of its strategic position as a bridge between Europe and the Mediterranean region, “Spain has actively promoted stronger relations between the EU and Egypt, including the promotion of greater economic cooperation, the promotion of investment in the Egyptian infrastructure and energy sectors and supporting dialogue on critical issues such as migration and security.” He further added that “Spain’s diplomatic efforts have often emphasized the mutual benefits of a strong partnership, highlighting Egypt’s potential as a gateway to African markets and as a key player in ensuring Mediterranean stability.”
Noting that Spain and Egypt share common values and points of view, including the defense of the peaceful resolution of conflicts, the fight against terrorism and the promotion of stability in the Mediterranean and beyond, Ehab Badaway praised, on behalf of the Egyptian Government, “Spain’s outstanding position towards the Palestinian cause, historically, and more recently with the recognition of the State of Palestine.” Furthermore, he said that his country will always remember the Middle East Peace Conference, held in Madrid in 1991.
Lastly, he stated that the work of “the vibrant Egyptian community” serves as a bridge between the two nations, strengthening their ties and promoting mutual understanding.
