Cairo, 25 July 2016 – Minister Nabila Makram Ebeid Abdel Shahid, Egyptian Minister of State for Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs (MoSEEA) launched the Ministry’s website and marked the closure of the Integrated Migration Information Systems (IMIS III) project funded by the Italian-Egyptian Debt Swap Programme and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) at an official event today.

H.E. Minister Abdel Shahid, Ms Carmela Godeau, Regional Director of IOM MENA, Mr Amr Taha, IOM Egypt Head of office, Mr Marco Platzer, Head of the Italian-Egyptian Debt Swap Programme, and Ambassador Mohamed Oraby, Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Egyptian Parliament gave welcoming remarks at the event.

IMIS III was implemented under the leadership of the former Ministry of Manpower and Migration and presently the MoSEEA from May 2013 to June 2016, with a total budget of EGP 7,442,833.  

“IMIS III project was developed at a time when irregular Egyptian migration to Europe emerged as a serious concern and in recognition that irregular migration needs to be addressed by promoting safe and regular alternatives for Egyptian citizens. These alternatives ensure that migrant rights are being respected and that migration potential is utilized to its full to benefit migrants and to contribute to Egypt’s development,” stated Mr. Amr Taha, IOM Egypt Head of Office.

The ceremony highlighted the main achievements of IMIS III, including the launch of the Ministry’s new website. The website represents the most recent initiative of MoSEEA to reach out to Egyptian expatriates, and, through promoting dialogue with expatriates and expatriate associations, increase their engagement in the social and economic development of their country.

The IMIS III project further strengthened national institutional capacities for analyzing and responding to international labour market demands. Results included the establishment of a Quality assurance system (QAS) established to assess and validate skills testing and certification processes in three occupations within tourism sector. In line with the mandate of the newly established MoSEEA, the project also paved the way for engaging Egyptian expatriates and expatriate associations in supporting Egypt’s development agenda, hence linking migration with development as highlighted by H.E Abdel Shehid in her speech.

IMIS III also supported a key interest of the Egyptian government as outlined in H.E. President El Sisi’s statement to the 70th session of the UN General Assembly on 28 September 2015; the outcomes of the African Union Horn of Africa Initiative (AU-HoAI); the United Nations Development Action Framework (UNDAF) for Egypt; the 2014 Egyptian constitution; and the Valletta Action Plan, all of which call for initiatives to better link international migration and development planning.

Senior officials and Ministerial representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Planning Monitoring and Administrative Reform, Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Social Solidarity, Ministry of Investment, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Youth and Sports, EU Delegation, Italian Embassy, as well as regional representatives from IOM and other international and national development partners were also present.

For further information, please contact Teuta Grazhdani at IOM Egypt. Tel: +202-27365140, Email: iomegypt@iom.int