Egypt’s Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli chaired a meeting on Sunday to review progress on settling the debt of state-owned press institutions, reaffirming the government’s commitment to implementing presidential directives aimed at backing the national media sector and ensuring the long-term sustainability of national press organisations.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of State for Information Diaa Rashwan, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom, and Chairman of the National Press Authority (NPA) Abdel Sadek El Shorbagy.
Opening the meeting, Madbouli stressed that resolving the financial liabilities of national press institutions remains a government priority, underscoring that supporting these organisations is essential to reinforcing their national role, preserving their media mission, and enabling them to fulfil their responsibilities effectively.
He noted that the government has held a series of meetings in recent months to examine proposals and develop practical mechanisms for addressing the accumulated debt of state-owned press institutions through sustainable solutions.
Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to settling the institutions’ outstanding liabilities in coordination with the NPA. He said the objective is to establish sustainable financial resources that will enable the organisations to meet their financial obligations, address operational challenges, and continue fulfilling their public mission.
Minister of State for Information Diaa Rashwan likewise emphasised that resolving the institutions’ debt is a key component of the state’s broader strategy to support Egypt’s national press organisations.
During the meeting, NPA Chairman Abdel Sadek El Shorbagy reviewed the authority’s recent efforts to address the debt of state-owned press institutions. He highlighted ongoing initiatives to improve their financial sustainability by maximising returns on their assets and enhancing asset management, thereby generating sustainable revenues, strengthening their ability to meet financial obligations, and preventing the accumulation of new liabilities.
Madbouli directed the NPA to prepare a comprehensive sustainability study for each state-owned press institution, outlining proposed mechanisms to achieve long-term financial viability. The studies will be reviewed in coordination with Deputy Prime Minister Hussein Eissa before being presented at a subsequent meeting for approval and the adoption of the necessary executive measures.
