Minister of Education Discusses with Chairman of Toyota Tsusho Company

Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, met today with John Karubi, Chairman of Toyota Tsusho Company, and his accompanying delegation to discuss ways of cooperation in establishing partnerships in the field of technical education within the framework of the Egyptian state's keenness to strengthen partnerships with the private sector in the field of applied technology schools.

At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif stressed that Egyptian-Japanese relations are a model to be emulated in international cooperation, as both Egypt and Japan seek to strengthen bilateral ties in various fields, especially in education and technical education.

In this context, the Minister of Education expressed the importance of this cooperation with the Japanese side in developing technical education in line with the requirements of the labor market, stressing that the ministry aims to achieve integration between education and the requirements of the labor market, and seeks through this cooperation to benefit from partnerships with the private sector in improving the quality of education and providing students with the necessary skills to face the challenges of the new labor market.

During the meeting, the Minister of Education reviewed a proposal for a distinguished model (ATS) for partnership in technical education, which focuses on applied education and practical training in partnership with industrial institutions. This model aims to qualify graduates for the labor market with high efficiency.

The Minister also extended an invitation to John Karubi, Chairman of Toyota Tsusho, to visit Egypt and inspect the Applied Technology Schools, which represent an innovative model and a success in developing technical education in Egypt. They were established to meet the growing needs of the labor market and are an advanced center for vocational education and training, combining academic curricula and practical training in a real professional environment.

For his part, Mr. John Karubi, Chairman of Toyota Tsusho, welcomed Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif and the attendees, stressing that the State of Egypt is a strategic partner in strengthening economic relations and bilateral cooperation, stressing that Toyota Tsusho operates in multiple fields, reflecting its commitment to expanding the scope of cooperation and contributing to sustainable development.

Mr. John Karubi explained that Toyota Tsusho is working intensively, as it is currently focusing on strengthening its presence in the African continent, adding that the company has 54 branches around the world, and relies on the industrial and commercial model to achieve its goals.

He added that the company aims to find partnerships with distinguished local companies in different countries, as the company is primarily concerned with safety.

The Chairman of Toyota Tsusho confirmed that the company seeks to enhance human development in the field of technical education, noting that the company established a vocational and training academy in Kenya in 2014 in partnership with JICA, and 7,000 graduates graduated from the academy in various fields, noting that the academy opens its doors to trainees from outside Toyota as well. In addition, a program was signed with JICA and the State of Angola during the TICAD 7 conference in 2019, where 20 trainers were trained in the fields of technical education.

The meeting discussed the possibility of establishing an applied technology school in partnership with Toyota in Egypt.

This came in the presence of Ambassador Mohamed Abu Bakr, Egypt's Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Hanem Ahmed, the Minister's Advisor for International Relations and Agreements, and a delegation from the Egyptian Embassy.