Egypt’s PM reviews 2nd follow-up report on executive plan for National Dialogue’s recommendations

CAIRO – 23 March 2024: Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli reviewed the second follow-up report on the executive plan for the measures proposed by the Egyptian National Dialogue, up until mid-March.

Madbouli stated that the National Dialogue holds significant importance for President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who has instructed the government to promptly translate the outcomes and recommendations of the dialogue into actionable plans aimed at advancing goals across various sectors.

A joint coordination group has been established, comprising representatives from both the cabinet and the National Dialogue, tasked with overseeing the implementation of recommendations across various sectors.

In relation to the objective of enhancing the role of local popular councils, it was highlighted that the Ministry of Parliamentary Council Affairs is currently coordinating with the House of Representatives to finalize the draft law on local popular councils. Additionally, efforts are being made to develop suitable training programs aimed at improving the skills of personnel within these councils.

As an example, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has developed an executive plan aimed at training youth cadres and workers within local councils through a variety of training programs. These programs include "Preparing for Digital Transformation," "Digital Transformation and Technological Creativity," "Digital Governance," "Technological Behavior," "Basic and Advanced Digital Skills," and "Sustainable Digital Project Management."

The Ministry has undertaken initiatives to enhance and cultivate digital competencies among leaders and personnel across governorates, encompassing a workforce of 26,000 individuals. Technical assistance has been extended to establish information systems and digital transformation departments within these regions. Furthermore, training has been completed for 2,060 employees engaged in these departments across various governorates. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding has been signed with Huawei to establish 20 ICT academies within the governorates, aimed at fostering and advancing the digital and emerging technological skills of both workers and citizens. The initiative is set to commence implementation in the North Sinai Governorate.

Political Axis

Regarding the political aspect, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has highlighted several significant developments:

Firstly, the Innovators and Geniuses Fund, in collaboration with the international Hult Prize Foundation, has initiated the "Egypt Summit for Community Investment Projects" competition.

Secondly, a cooperative agreement has been established between the Ministry of Higher Education and the International Labor Organization (ILO), in conjunction with the United Kingdom, to launch the "Higher Education Vocational Guidance for Employment" program.

Thirdly, a memorandum of understanding has been formalized between Badr University and the Canterbury Christ Church University. This memorandum aims to bolster academic and research cooperation, facilitating the exchange of experiences between the two universities, particularly in fields related to teaching curricula accredited by the British Education Quality System at Badr University.

Social Axis

The government is actively engaged in enhancing the systems and regulations governing financial guardianship related to family affairs. This initiative aims to address the challenges faced by numerous families and create a conducive environment for Egyptian mothers to assume financial responsibility for raising their children following the father's death. The Ministry of Justice has drafted legislation incorporating numerous amendments recommended by the National Dialogue to address these issues.

Moreover, the launch of the National Strategy for Entrepreneurship in Egypt underscores the government's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship. Discussions surrounding the strategy are ongoing, with efforts focused on coordinating among relevant authorities to finalize the draft. Additionally, endeavors are underway to expand the establishment of entrepreneurship projects within both private and public free zones.

A total of 20 "Digital Egypt" innovation centers have been established across various governorates. Additionally, the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Authority has entered into a cooperation protocol with "eAswaaq Misr," an operating technology company affiliated with the "eFinance" group. The objective is to oversee the management, operation, and marketing of the first electronic platform.

These initiatives have resulted in the creation of approximately 33,000 job opportunities for young individuals aged 21 to 45 years. Notably, for every project, there is a ratio of 2:3 direct job opportunities, besides indirect job opportunities.

To bolster educational and cultural awareness of entrepreneurship, applications were opened in 2023 for participation in the "Goodwill" program. This initiative aims to support entrepreneurs of determination and their projects, with the goal of facilitating their success in their ventures and providing ongoing support to nurture their creativity and innovation.

The National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development recently announced the activation of the electronic educational services center, which is affiliated with the Egypt Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, in February 2024. Concurrently, the Information Technology Industry Development Authority (ITIDA) initiated the "Supporting Graduation Projects" program tailored for university students. This program aims to foster collaboration between companies and academia, facilitating the transition of students' academic projects into practical solutions.

Health Sector

The General Authority for Comprehensive Health Insurance has recently entered into a collaboration agreement with "eHealth" to bolster health services, particularly in the realm of primary care, and ensure their accessibility to citizens through partnerships with the private sector.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health and Population has forged a memorandum of understanding with Glasgow SmithKline (GSK), a global leader in the healthcare sector. This agreement signifies a commitment to collaborating on the development and enhancement of medical services within Egypt's healthcare sector.

A bilateral cooperation protocol has been signed between the General Authority for Healthcare and the Arab Hospitals Federation, aimed at implementing green healthcare practices and advancing the digital transformation of services within the Authority's hospitals.

Furthermore, the General Authority for Healthcare has entered into a cooperation protocol with the pharmaceutical company "Viatris" to initiate an integrated education and training program.

Moreover, an agreement has been announced between the Sovereign Fund of Egypt and B Investments Holding S.A.E. ("B Investments") to invest 2 billion EGP in specialized healthcare, pharmaceutical distribution, and trade services within Egypt.

Education Sector

The government has prepared a unified law for pre-university education and a unified educational strategy. Also, a draft presidential decision has been set to establish the Supreme National Authority for Education and Training, whose tasks include issuing a unified educational strategy.

Committees have been established by the Productivity and Vocational Training Department, with the collaboration of industry specialists, to develop and design curricula aimed at meeting specific industry needs.

Additionally, seventeen professions have been refined following a comprehensive study of labor market requirements. Moreover, eight professions, including installation and maintenance of photovoltaic energy systems, ready-made garments production, heavy equipment operation, well drilling techniques, mining services processing, pump and compressor maintenance, diesel engine repair, and carpentry, have been enhanced through a competency-based system. This initiative is a result of a partnership between the Productivity and Vocational Training Department and the "TVET EGYPT" program.

International cooperation protocols have been established with technical academies and factories to facilitate vocational and technical exchanges. These agreements aim to augment the pool of specialized workers and enhance technical training opportunities.

Culture Sector

The Ministry of Culture annually hosts festivals showcasing traditional and heritage crafts, with the aim of promoting these crafts and their products. Additionally, the ministry organizes workshops across various fields to teach traditional and heritage crafts.

Moreover, the Culture Palaces Authority organized 3,317 events in 2023. These events addressed topics relevant to society and played a role in strengthening the national identity.

To address the lack of access to cinematic production in areas that have been underserved for years, the Ministry introduced the "People's Cinema" initiative. This initiative has established 21 cinema halls across 19 governorates, offering screenings of films at nominal prices. Throughout 2023, a total of 4,000 cinematic events were organized under this initiative, aiming to provide communities with access to diverse cinematic experiences.

Economic Sector

The General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) reduced the required documents for starting activities by 62%. A service was also implemented to establish companies through a unified electronic platform that allows all fees to be paid electronically using an electronic signature.

A specialized unit has been established to streamline the process of obtaining the golden license, aimed at expediting approval for projects. The Industrial Development Authority has set a maximum timeframe of 20 working days for processing industrial license applications from investors. This period commences from the date of application submission, ensuring efficient and timely processing of licenses.

Approval has been granted to allocate 1,177 plots to accommodate 664 industrial projects, covering a total area of 2 million square meters.

The sixth phase of the electronic map for industrial investment has been launched, encompassing 456 new plots of land with a total area exceeding one million square meters. These plots are distributed across 10 governorates throughout the republic. The offering includes attached plots suitable for various industrial activities, ranging in size from 200 square meters to 10,000 square meters.

The GAFI, in cooperation with all concerned parties, launched a unified electronic platform for establishing, operating and liquidating projects.

The Ministry of International Cooperation has introduced the "Hafiz" platform, designed to provide financial and technical support for the private sector. This platform serves as an integrated hub connecting development partners with a diverse range of private sector entities, including large corporations, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), micro-enterprises, and emerging companies. Through the "Hafiz" platform, these companies can access development financing, technical assistance, and advisory services, fostering their growth and sustainability.

The government is actively integrating the necessary requirements, procedures, and fee categories for licensing hotel and tourism establishments into comprehensive guidelines.

These guidelines are being developed by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to enforce and activate the Hotel and Tourist Establishments Law No. (8) of 2022 and its corresponding executive regulations.

This initiative aims to streamline the process of obtaining licenses for tourism activities, ensuring compliance with legal frameworks and facilitating the establishment and operation of hotel and tourism facilities.