New job prospects, strengthening micro-enterprises and the needs of the labour market - an interview on the work carried out by the Egyptian-German Center for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration (EGC) with H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Khairat, the Assistant Minister for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs.

What does your work at the EGC look like?

I am responsible for overseeing various international projects organised by the Ministry of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs. Here at the EGC we are all one team, consisting of staff from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Ministry of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs. Our goals are centred around our title: Jobs, Migration and Reintegration. A major part of our mission is reintegrating migrants back into Egyptian society. We offer the returnees a number of services, such as matching them with job opportunities suitable for their skills. We help them settle in during their first few months after returning, especially if they are returning from Germany because then we can start this process while they are still there. We are not only helping potential migrants gain qualifications, we are also facilitating the transition for those returning through guidance and capacity-building measures. We also provide those who wish to migrate to Germany or any other country with the necessary information, e.g. on the requirements for regular migration, how to live in German society and how to look for a job.

What do you see as the most important task?

Perhaps the most important goal is dealing with irregular migration in a sustainable manner. We are not simply relying on warning people about the risks of dangerous migration routes. Instead, we work with government initiatives whose goal is to create jobs for Egyptians in need. This includes the presidential initiative “Life Saving Boats”, which aims to create jobs for Egyptians in need. People migrate looking for job opportunities and ultimately for a better life. Nobody wants to risk their life, and that’s why we are offering vocational and technical training. We can connect people to the Egyptian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA) so that they can secure funding for a small enterprise as a viable and sustainable alternative to irregular migration.