Egypt one of few countries that achieved growth rate amidst COVID-19 pandemic: President Sisi

CAIRO – 10 January 2022: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al Sisi said that Egypt was one of the few countries around the word that achieved a growth rate amidst the Corona pandemic.

During the first and main session of the fourth edition of World youth forum in Sharm al Sheikh city, Sisi noted that at the beginning of the pandemic the whole world thought that casualties would be around several thousand, but shortly later ‘we have found that casualties and infections exceeded tens of millions around the world’. ‘Several and complete sectors shutdown completely all around the world’, Sisi said.

 

He noted that Egypt has launched several held campaigns during the past years to overcome diseases such as ‘virus C’ that helped the country to control and limit COVID-19 infections.

“Imagine the numbers that we could’ve lost if there were caught COVID while being affected with such diseases”, Sisi said during his participation in the ‘Corona Pandemic: Warning for Humanity and New Hope’ session.

The president also noted that: “without the strong economic reform program that Egypt has launched in November 2016, we would not have been able to withstand the economic shocks caused by the repercussions of COVD-19”.

He affirmed that both of the tourism and aviation sectors in Egypt have been greatly affected by COVID-19; however, the government took steps to compensate the affected sectors.

According to President Sisi, Egypt also supported irregular employment during the pandemic with financial aids. He noted that the government was keen ‘no to suspend the progress in any of the country’s economic projects’

He explained that ‘Haya Karima’ was one of the huge initiatives that Egypt launched during the past years to face the repercussions of poverty in the countryside along with COVID-19 effects.

“In Egypt, we were never afraid of COVID-19, yes we sticked to the precautionary measures, but work never stopped” President Sisi affirmed.

He noted that in the coming years, COVID-19 real effects will emphasize and appear more clearly, ‘as everyone will get to notice that the pandemic had positive affects along with the negative ones’

International participations

Several officials and leaders were keen to participate in Egypt’s WYF in it’s fourth edition with recorded and lice speeches via video conference including presidents of Romania, Colombia and Zambia.

Other officials such as Tanzania Prime Minster, Emirati Minister Shamma Al Mazrui, High Representative for UN Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Ángel Moratinos and the United States ambassador in Egypt Jonathan R. Cohen also participated in the session.

 

Romania President Klaus Iohannis emphasized in his speech the youth role to face challenges and support peace and stability all around the world.

Colombia President Iván Duque Márquez also said that youth should be at the center of all political discussions for achieving a better future.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said that his country has been keen to include youth in all activities, support all creative solutions and create new job opportunities.

Tanzania Prime Minster called during WYF on all international entities and organizations to set joint strategies to confront Challenges such as Covid-19 and ensure achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

As for the Emirati Minister Shamma Al Mazrui, she affirmed that her country had a great vision to involve young people in the government and political leadership in general

Al Mazrui said that UAE established a ‘youth movement’ at the state level and established the Youth Council along with launching 40 initiatives just to listen to the youth’s visions and opinions.

China’s president representative at Egypt’s WYF noted that “giving priority to youth development is something everyone agrees on, as young people from all over the world must strengthen global efforts to achieve their interests and ensure a better future for themselves”.

High Representative for UN Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Ángel Moratinos saied that WYF considered to be a ‘bridge for communication between youth and all officials to bring perspectives closer, understand each other and find common ground.’

Moratinos called on using the young people potentials as one of the reforming tools in societies, not just to listen to their opinions or perspectives.

US ambassador to Egypt Jonathan R. Cohen highlighted Egypt’s aid to support other countries in need as a result of COVID-19, saying that Egypt has been generous to donate number of medical devices for other countries. He said that Egypt and the United States have cooperated lately in a large number of files including COVID-19 and green energy.

Egypt’s 4th edition of the World Youth Forum [WYF] kicked off, Monday with the participation of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al Sisi, Lebanon’s Prime Minster Najib Mikati, Crown Prince of Jordan Hussein bin Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The forum is held under the slogan of ‘Back Together’, with the participation of young people from 196 countries in Sharm El-Sheikh. WYF activities are expected to take place until January 13.

2021’s WYF agenda includes number of vital topics, which reflect the features of the new reality after Coronavirus pandemic, that affected the lives of millions all over the world.

Participants at the 4th edition of WYF have the choice to participate either physically or remotely via the virtual system due to COVID-19.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Egypt on Sunday to participate in the he fourth edition of Egypt’s World Youth Forum.

President Abbas’ two day-visit comes at President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s invitation to attend the forum activities, the Palestinian embassy in Egypt said.

The Palestinian President was received by Egyptian Minister of Environment Yassmine Fouad, a delegation from the Egyptian Intelligence Services, and Palestinian ambassador to Egypt and the Arab League Diab el Louh.

Also, Crown Prince of Jordan Hussein bin Abdullah II and Lebanon’s Prime Minster Najib Mikati are participating in the forum.

The Crown Prince’s participation is the third time since the first launch of the forum in Egypt.