Egypt-EU Talent Partnership thrives in tourism and hospitality sectors

CAIRO (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, and the European Union (EU), held their second Egypt-EU Talent Partnership roundtable in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, within the framework of the EU-funded project, Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa (THAMM Plus).

The Roundtable, held during the first part of the day, focused on strategic priorities and challenges related to labour migration cooperation between Egypt and the European Union. Discussions covered the monitoring of ongoing Talent Partnership initiatives, including the ILO action under THAMM Plus, as well as the finalization of the Egypt-EU Talent Partnership Action Plan. Particular attention was given to strengthening coordination mechanisms and identifying priority sectors for implementation.

In the second part of the day, the ILO formally launched the NTF within the framework of the THAMM Plus programme. NTF aims to support well managed labour mobility by identifying skills gaps, labour market needs, and institutional bottlenecks, and by translating these into concrete and actionable priorities. As a standing dialogue mechanism, the National Technical Forum will bring together public institutions, international partners, employers, and skills actors to advance fair recruitment, skills recognition, and mutually beneficial mobility pathways between Egypt and the EU.

© ILO

© ILO

The first meeting of the NTF, was opened by Karim Abouelenein, Minister Plenipotentiary, Director of Migration, Refugees and Combatting Human Trafficking Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, and Silvio Grieco, Deputy Head of Unit DG HOME with the European Commission, setting the scene for enhanced cooperation under the Talent Partnership. This was followed by a synopsis, which was presented by Miriam Boudraa, THAMM Plus Regional Project Manager, that discussed building skills and mobility in tourism & hospitality.

The day proceeded afterwards with a high-level panel discussion moderated by Farah ElBatrawy, the project's National Coordinator, bringing together representatives from Germany, Italy, and Egypt, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labour, as well as the European Training Foundation. The discussion reflected diverse perspectives on skills anticipation, workforce needs, and mobility pathways in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

The session concluded with a presentation by Miriam Boudraa on the NTF's next phases, which will be implemented in 2026. These will include a series of webinars and in person meetings aimed at advancing technical discussions and translating Talent Partnership commitments into concrete actions. The Forum will also reinforce the role of social dialogue, skills recognition, and inter institutional cooperation as key enablers for effective labour mobility governance.

Outcomes of the forum and its different phases are expected to feed into the implementation priorities of the Egypt-EU Talent Partnership, supporting evidence-based policymaking and the development of pilot initiatives aligned with decent work principles and labour market needs on both sides of the Mediterranean.