Gradual improvements in state’s economic indicators: PM

CAIRO – 24 July 2017: There is “gradual improvement” in some of the state’s economic indicators, including the balance of payments, unemployment rates, growth rates, budget deficit and trade balance, according to Prime Minster Sherif Ismail during the fourth National Youth Conference in Alexandria on Monday.

“Everyone has started to feel the development’s effects within his life standard and services,” Ismail said, adding that the positive results of the hard decisions taken during the past period will be obvious starting this year.

Ismail said that that there is continuous communication between the government and youth all the time, not only through the conference. “We are here to listen and discuss all the different opinions and perspectives,” he said.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi tasked asked the government with resolving the real problems in the society, according to Ismail, who said, “That’s the role we accepted during this hard phase.”

During his speech, Ismail commented that the country is suffering from some “chronic economic problems”, including the deficit of the state’s budget, the public debt, parallel markets, infrastructure, population increase and slums. The reform process, however, is not going to stop soon.

“We still have about two to three years of reform, and we are determined to face the challenges until achieving the development rates we hope for,” the prime minister stated.

Monday morning, President Sisi inaugurated the fourth National Youth Conference in Alexandria. Around 1,500 youth attended the conference, along with parliamentarians, heads of unions and universities, journalists, public figures, and representatives of the National Council for Women and the National Council for Human Rights.

During the first session of the fourth National Youth Conference in Alexandria on Monday, President Sisi said that overpopulation and terrorism are Egypt’s real two threats.

Several issues were discussed by Sisi and the ministers, including education, health and overpopulation. The session, titled “Egypt’s Vision 2030”, with the participation of 1,500 youth and several public figures, started with a speech by Minister of Planning and Development Hala Al Saeed, who gave a main frame for the government’s vision during the coming period.