Eng. Hazem El-Ashmouny, Governor of Sharkia, received Ambassador Ahmed Fawzy El-Sherif, Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Foreign Affairs, Authentications, and Citizen Services, at his office in the General Diwan. The meeting discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the governorate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and expand the opening of new authentication offices and consular services in various centers and cities of the governorate to ease the burden on citizens. The governor emphasized that Sharkia is one of the largest governorates, with a population exceeding 8 million. Therefore, it was imperative for us to expand the implementation of development plans and improve the level of services provided to citizens across various sectors. This comes in implementation of the directives of the political leadership to facilitate citizens, especially the elderly, and provide various services in locations close to them. The meeting discussed ways to expand the opening of new offices to provide authentication services in several governorate centers and cities, in addition to the existing office in Zagazig. The governor affirmed the governorate's readiness to cooperate and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to overcome any obstacles and provide all necessary facilities for the expansion of the establishment of new offices. This will contribute to facilitating the process for citizens wishing to obtain official documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' authentication offices, and will ease the burden of commuting to Zagazig. For his part, the Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs praised the Sharqia Governorate's great cooperation and its willingness to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in implementing the ministry's vision to expand authentication offices across various governorates, contributing to improving the quality of consular services provided to citizens. He noted that the necessary inspections will be conducted of the offices proposed during the meeting to begin the necessary procedures for their opening and providing distinguished services to citizens.