Cairo – Egypt and the United States signed $268 million in bilateral agreements this week that signify a new era in support from the American people for joint U.S.-Egypt priorities in economic growth, agriculture, tourism, governance, water and waste water management, and education.  These historic agreements result from close consultation between governments and detail the terms for cooperative support between the Governments of Egypt and the United States.

“These new programs demonstrate the commitment of the American people to investing in a prosperous Egypt, particularly for its youth,” said Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo Thomas H. Goldberger.  “Since 1975, the United States has helped to build a more sustainably prosperous Egypt through gains in education, health, governance, and economic growth that have tangibly improved the lives of Egyptians – a legacy that we hope to continue through these new assistance agreements.” 

For over three decades, the U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has fostered international development cooperation between the United States and Egypt,  implementing programs totaling nearly $30 billion since 1975, and has directly supported reductions in infant and maternal mortality rates; improvement in reading abilities in the early grades; development of telecommunications, energy, and water infrastructure that reaches nearly all Egyptians; increases in agriculture and water productivity; and a stronger trade and investment environment leading to better jobs and incomes.