CAIRO – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has stressed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has shown full understanding in dealing with Egypt and has not obligated Cairo to adopt any obligatory tracks.
The president made his statements on Wednesday during a meeting with development partners on the sidelines of the World Youth Forum (WYF), currently hosted by Sharm el-Sheikh.
He explained that Egypt has completed the first and second phases of the economic reform programme and it continues to carry out reforms.
Egypt is one of the first countries that had contributions to international organisations, including the United Nations, the African Union and the Arab League, and still has ongoing co-operation with these bodies.
The president praised the Egyptian people who helped the government to implement such reforms, noting that the reforms achieved before the outbreak of Covid-19 helped overcome the repercussions of the pandemic.
Egypt has launched the 100 Million Healthy Lives Initiative for four years through making use of the World Health Organisation’s expertise to make tests for more than 70 million Egyptian citizens.
Sisi asserted that Egypt told the IMF officials that it is serious to carry out the economic reform programme and overcome any difficulties whatsoever, so the program has very positive effects on the national economy.
All officials of the international institutions showed their readiness for sharing their experience with Egypt, he said.
Egypt and the IMF have always good understanding, while Cairo has not been forced to take any obligatory tracks.
Egypt has successfully completed the first and second phases of the programme and works on carrying out the programme entirely.
The president noted that Egypt is always keen to cement co-operation with all international organizations and institutions, including the United Nations, the African Union and the Arab League.
Sisi stressed that addiction is blight for all countries but the state spares no efforts to put an end to this problem.
Addiction poses threats to the future of any country that does not strictly counter this problem, he added.
Sisi noted that the state supports the private sector firms that serve the homeland.
The presidential “Decent Life” initiative is an integrated project that covers all domains, including infrastructure and communications, to serve citizens living in more than 60 per cent of Egypt’s total areas.
Youth will be one of the main pillars for the success of the UN Climate Change Conference, to be hosted by Egypt in November 2022.
Sisi reaffirmed that he works on attracting businesses to invest in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, noting that Egypt has been working for four years with a view to becoming an energy hub in the Middle East region.
The WHO provided Egypt with technical support to make medical tests under the 100 Million Healthy Lives initiative to have the lowest rates of Hepatitis C virus worldwide.
Meanwhile, the president unveiled that he had a dialogue with the US ambassador in 2011 and told her that Egypt was then ruled by the outlaw Muslim Brotherhood but this group would not rule the state because Egyptian people could not be controlled by force.
Sisi said all the bodies of the state is working on combating corruption, adding that the state will not allow terror to sabotage the country.
Sisi asserted that “100 Million Healthy Lives” initiative started four years ago, asserting that the initiative scanned more than 70 million Egyptians and the economic reform helped in combating coronavirus and its impact.
He said Egypt spent six trillions on infrastructure in different sectors and the results were manifested in the 3.6-percent economic growth rate we achieved.
Commenting on climate change, Sisi pointed out that Egypt is heading for construction and reform, adding that the world will do every effort to improve the climate.
President Sisi said that activating the strategy of human and women rights will benefit all the Egyptians.
Egypt is among the first countries to issue green bonds that are worth 750 million dollars, he said, adding that Egypt is keen on coping with the progress taking place around the world.
“Decent Life” initiative aims at drastically changing the life of 60 million people, he said, hoping the project will be finalized within the coming three months.