Society 363 / 2013

Ägypten
Interview
are some very specialized and well-placed companies
that can cooperate with us. We are open to
any approach by these companies to discuss possible
projects in the wind and solar energy sector.
Why should foreign companies invest in
Egypt?
Egypt is quite a huge market in the region. It is
a market of over ninety million inhabitants. The
profit margins and possibilities are there, that
is why many companies have started or are considering
investing in projects in Egypt. Moreover,
Egypt has always been a leader when it comes to
introducing new technologies in the region, not
only in consumer products, but mainly with infrastructure
projects, such as the underground
transportation system which was established and
opened to the public in Egypt starting 1987.
Does the Embassy organize business trips for
interested companies?
We are working on that with the economic
chamber. Maybe in the second half of the year it
will be materializing.
What is the trade balance between Austria
and Egypt?
It is increasing annually and reached in 2012
around 270 million Euros. However, what we
look more to than the trade balance is cooperation
in projects, what we seek more is the implementation
of specific projects. As I said, the
whole philosophy behind our developmental
policy is to have a policy that is translated into
concrete projects that have a direct impact on
the population.
The transition to democracy is a very difficult
task. Do you see that as part of the democratization
process?
Democracy is an important development and
it is a process. The first element of that process
is dialogue and that is being undertaken by all
sectors of society in Egypt now. It is very healthy;
there is open dialogue about all issues in government
regarding any topic. This is a moment of
national debate in Egypt, which can sometimes
be a heated debate, but people are engaging with
each other and hopefully they will be reaching solutions
and formulas that are for the better and
for the interest of the Egyptian people.
»The demands of
the revolution
are equality,
freedom and
social justice.
«
Khaled
Shamaa
curriculum
vitae
.E. Ambassador
Khaled Shamaa was
Hborn on 15 January
1964 and was working as
Assistant Deputy Foreign
Minister for Disarmament
Affairs at the Egyptian
Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
He previously served at
Egyptian Embassies and/
or Permanent Missions in
Brasilia, Pretoria and New
York and is fluent in English,
French and Portuguese. He
holds a Bachelor degree
in Engineering from Cairo
University and a Masters Degree
in International Affairs
from George Washington
University. He is married
and father of two girls and
one boy.
Will Egypt be successful in the democratization
process? What is your prophecy?
Egypt is among the oldest – if not the oldest
– states in the world as a state. Through this extensive
history it has learnt lessons. Eventually,
whatever hiccups and heated debates there might
be, at the end of the day there will be a successful
formula that encompasses everybody in the country,
that really meets the needs and requirements
of the Egyptian people.
Democracy is about citizenship, every single
Egyptian having his needs met and also contributing
through his responsibilities in the betterment
and advancement of his country. This is the
main notion behind it.
Many things have changed in daily life. For
the better?
That is true, many things have changed, and
there will be even more changes because this is
the nature of transition. Everybody is working for
the sake of that transition to make it a transition
to better conditions for everybody. The demands
of the revolution in equality, freedom and social
justice are met through those changes and also
this transitional phase. This is how things are being
worked towards now. It is to meet these three
demands of the Egyptian people.
Are you optimistic about that transition?
Definitely.
What is the security situation now?
Security is part of that transitional phase and
security nowadays is definitely a lot better than in
the direct aftermath of the revolution. Things are
gradually moving in the right direction, including
security. One other element is that security challenges
are global and I have great faith in the capability
of our security forces to meet the challenges
they encounter.
Is there a security threat?
The sense of revolution and the sense of freedom
have to be counterbalanced by civic duties of
citizens. Eventually that relationship between the
citizen and the police officer has to be worked out
in a coherent manner that strengthens the rule of
law in the country in general.
For thirty years Egypt’s foreign policy has
been shaped by two positions: to be a partner
of the United States and to be part of the Arab
Muslim world. What kinds of changes have taken
place since the revolution in 2011? In which
direction will Egypt go?
That is a good question. Definitely our primary
focus will be on addressing the immediate developmental
challenges. Meeting these challenges
will require intensifying our cooperation with the
whole world. Of course, of prominence here are
the areas of direct interest for Egypt based on location,
i. e. of course Africa, and our immediate
neighbourhood which is the Arab world.
But more important will become the Mediterranean
Region, i.e. our endeavour to enhance our
relations with the EU and with the Mediterranean
countries and opening up new avenues of cooperation
with them.
And apart from the direct spheres of Egypt’s relations,
we are strengthening even further our relations
with Asia, which represents the new power
house for the global economy, as well as with our
partners in Lain America. We are also enhancing
further our strategic relations with the United
States and the Russian Federation. •
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