The 63rd annual trip of Al Gomhuria for top high school students commenced last Thursday, heading to Germany. This long-standing tradition, now in its 63rd year, underscores that genuine excellence transcends academic achievements, emphasizing the ability to continue learning, think critically, and utilize knowledge in serving the nation.
Al Gomhuria newspaper has prepared an enriching program for the students, including meetings and visits aimed at closely experiencing Germany's scientific, economic, and industrial renaissance. This opportunity to travel to Germany, alongside discovering new cultures and civilizations, will undoubtedly facilitate learning and polish the skills of Egypt's top high school students by leveraging the travel experience.
The trip is crucial in broadening the students' intellectual and imaginative horizons, assisting them at the outset of their lives and within our expansive world. A new tradition was initiated last year by the German Embassy in Cairo, where they welcomed and honored the top high school students, presenting them with passports and visas for the trip, highlighting the fruitful cooperation between Al Gomhuria and the German Embassy.
Examining the bilateral relations between Egypt and Germany reveals that Germany is one of Egypt's most significant European partners, particularly in economic, investment, and developmental domains. Over the past twelve years, there has been a deepening of bilateral cooperation, with German companies playing a pivotal role in Egypt's development plans, especially through infrastructure modernization projects.
Notable projects include the establishment of power plants by Siemens, the high-speed train network project, and the Suez Canal tunnel project, along with numerous other investments by major German companies such as Mercedes and Bosch. Annual technical and developmental cooperation programs between Egypt and Germany range in value from 100 to 150 million euros.
Germany ranks first among EU countries in terms of tourist exports, with 1.6 million tourists in 2023. Egyptian exports to Germany in 2024 amounted to approximately 1.5 billion euros, of which 1.2 billion euros were non-oil exports. Culturally and scientifically, around 9060 Egyptian students are currently studying at German universities, making Egypt one of the top fifteen countries sending students to Germany for university education.
Cooperation between Egypt and Germany in preserving heritage and antiquities has seen recent developments, with several archaeological pieces returned from Germany over the past years. The launch of the “Cultural Heritage in the Digital Space” project aims to preserve oriental manuscripts. This scientific collaboration is promising, with German and Egyptian scientists working closely on bilateral or multilateral research projects.
Key points
- The trip is part of a long-standing tradition that fosters critical thinking and applying knowledge for the nation's benefit.
- Germany is one of Egypt's most significant European partners, particularly in economic, investment, and developmental domains.
- Around 9060 Egyptian students are currently studying at German universities.
