This week, U.S. CENTCOM Commander General Joseph Votel traveled to Cairo for Bright Star 2018, the military exercises held between Egypt and the U.S. During his visit, he met with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, where they discussed military cooperation and the importance of strong relations between Egypt and the United States.

Read more about Gen. Votel’s travel to Cairo and other key stories you may have missed in this week’s email, including:

1. U.S. CENTCOM Commander Votel Meets President El Sisi, Inspects Bright Star 2018
2. Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation and USAID Sign Agreement to Advance $65 Million Infrastructure Development Grant
3. Representatives from 40 U.S. Companies Meet MIIC Minister Nasr in Cairo
4. United Nations World Tourism Organization: Egypt Now Fastest Growing Tourism Destination
5. World Bank Discusses Extending $1 Billion for Sinai Development

U.S. CENTCOM COMMANDER VOTEL MEETS PRESIDENT EL SISI, INSPECTS BRIGHT STAR 2018
U.S. CENTCOM Commander General Joseph Votel arrived in Egypt this week for to observe the start of the international military exercise Bright Star 2018. As part of the visit, on Saturday, 8 September, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met with General Votel in Cairo. According to a statement released by the Office of the Presidency, President El Sisi “confirmed the importance of the growing strategic relations between Egypt and the U.S., particularly ongoing military cooperation,” and “welcomed the launch of the joint exercise Bright Star 2018.” On Monday, 10 September, General Votel inspected forces taking part in the joint Egyptian-U.S. military drills that are currently being held at the Mohamed Naguib Military Base located near Egypt’s North Coast. According to Ahram Online, General Votel described the Operation Bright Star drills as one of the most important joint drills undertaken by the U.S. and praised the depth of military partnership between the U.S. and Egypt.

MINISTRY OF INVESTMENT AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND USAID SIGN AGREEMENT TO ADVANCE $65 MILLION INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT GRANT
This week, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation (MIIC) Sahar Nasr and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Sherry Carlin, signed a $13.8 million agreement to help build the capacity of Egypt’s Holding Company for Water and Wastewater and its subsidiary companies. According to Daily News Egypt, Minister Nasr said that the agreement aims to raise the quality of services provided to citizens by improving the basic services provided to underserved regions and villages, which will help reduce the spread of diseases and improve essential health care services. According to a statement released by USAID, Egypt Mission Director Carlin said that “in support of the Government of Egypt’s strategic vision to reform water and wastewater utilities, USAID will provide technical assistance with a focus on operational efficiency and quality of service,” and that “this will help HCWW and its subsidiaries reach self-sufficiency and ensure the continuation of services vital for the health and well-being of Egyptian families.”

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 40 U.S. COMPANIES MEET MIIC MINISTER NASR IN CAIRO
On Tuesday, 11 September, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation (MIIC) Sahar Nasr met in Cairo with a delegation representing 40 U.S. companies invested in Egypt that the government is actively working to encourage investments in the private sector. According to Ahram Online, Minister Nasr praised the private sector’s role in generating economic growth, creating job opportunities and reducing poverty in Egypt. U.S. Embassy Cairo’s Charge d’Affaires Thomas Goldberger attended the meeting and hailed the Egyptian government’s efforts to facilitate investment, saying that U.S. companies are interested in expanding their activities in Egypt in the near-term.

UNITED NATIONS WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION: EGYPT NOW FASTEST GROWING TOURISM DESTINATION
This week, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announced in its annual global travel and tourism report that Egypt is the fastest growing tourist destination. According to Daily News Egypt, the report showed that Egypt received approximately 8.5 million tourists in 2017, with an 55.1% increase in arrivals compared to the same period in the previous year. Last month, Reutersreported that Egypt’s tourism revenues jumped 77% in the first half of 2018 compared with the same period the year before, reaching $4.8 billion.

WORLD BANK DISCUSSES EXTENDING $1 BILLION FOR SINAI DEVELOPMENT
MIIC Minister Sahar Nasr spoke with the World Bank this week to discuss accelerating $1 billion in project support for a comprehensive Sinai development program. According to Ahram Online, Minister Nasr highlighted the importance of the World Bank’s allocation of several grants for developing Sinai, which is a top priority for Egypt. “The project will secure thousands of jobs and contribute to the development of the eastern Suez Canal,” Minister Nasr said. Last week, the World Bank offered the Government of Egypt $1 billion in loans to improve Egyptian agriculture and support cash transfer programs targeting Egypt’s most vulnerable segments of society.