National Press Authority (NPA) chairman Abdel Sadek el-Shorbagi held an expanded meeting on Tuesday with Minister of State for Immigration and Egyptians Affairs Abroad Soha el-Gendi.
Board chairmen and chief editors of national press institutions were present at the meeting, which dealt with government efforts to involve Egyptian expatriates in development, proposed initiatives and investment incentives.
The government has launched many facilities for Egyptians abroad and contacted with them directly at the Egyptian entities conference, foreign tours, or through the ‘Hour with the Minister’ initiative, the minister said.
El-Gendi said her ministry in co-operation with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is preparing an application for Egyptians abroad to ease access to all services.
The ministry is also compiling a database to benefit from expat experience in all areas of development, the minister added.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi gives great attention to Egyptians abroad and is keen that Egyptian expatriates maintain their links with their homeland with a view to realising Egypt’s ambitions for sustainable development on the road “to the New Republic”, the minister said.
The government has made Egyptians expats’ affairs top priority, el-Gendi said, adding that her ministry is looking forward to benefiting from the expertise of all Egyptian expats.
All drives are intended to involve Egyptian expats in the establishment of the New Republic and integrate them in sustainable development together with ongoing mega-project for development, el-Gendi said.
The ministry has organised trips for second- to fourth- generation Egyptians to learn and appreciate their country’s culture, el-Gendi added.
The minister underlined the importance of the presidential Life Boats initiative to combat illegal immigration.
The ministry is working around the clock to respond to all enquiries from Egyptian expatriates and to hold virtual meetings with members of Egyptian communities abroad to know about their problems and help solve them, el-Gendi said.
The Ministry has also launched an initiative dubbed “Speak up..Don’t be Afraid; Egypt is by your side.”
The initiative, which was launched in co-operation with an Egyptian online mental health platform, was aimed to provide psychological support to the young Egyptians abroad.
For his part, the NPA chairman said this meeting came at an important time to strengthen co-operation and co-ordination between state institutions.
Egyptians living and working abroad are an integral part of homeland and ambassadors of the country with its unique civilisation, culture and morals, el-Shorbagi said.
The political leadership has in recent years attached much importance to Egyptians abroad through initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Immigration to communicate with expats, el-Shorbagi added.
The government is very keen on the participation of Egyptians abroad in all events to maintain their political and social rights, strengthening their feeling of belonging to Egypt.
Since President Abdel Fattah El Sisi assumed office, initiatives have been launched serving the interests of the Egyptians abroad, el-Shorbagi said.
