Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has stressed that ultimate goal of the ongoing National Dialogue is “to talk and give every one of us the chance to express his opinion and views, which finally seeks national interests.”
The National Dialogue is a case one hopes would continue, President Sisi added in remarks during a panel session at the National Youth Conference, which kicked off in Alexandria on Wednesday.
Sisi emphasised that he would endorse “the outcomes that will be concluded by the National Dialogue, whether pertaining to the political, economic or social axes, that fall within his powers and are in line with law and the constitution.
Other outcomes, that do not fall within the president’s powers, will be referred to the parliament, he added.
Meanwhile, President Sisi opened on Wednesday, via videoconference, a number of national projects in the governorates of Beheira and Alexandria. These included Kom Hamada Specialised Hospital, built on the area of 3100 square metres at a total cost of LE450 million.
The president also opened the marrow transplant unit at Al Mawasa Teaching Hospital in Alexandria, and the tunnel and bridges project at Sadat intersection and the Sadat tunnel under the Alexandria Corniche.
The president also highlighted the importance of the housing projects the state is carrying out, to dissolve ‘chronic problems”, noting that there are 300,000 to 400,000 housing units in Alexandria that are unfit for habitation. The cost of alternative 300,000 is estimated at LE150 billion.
The president also reviewed several road and traffic axes carried out in the Mediterranean city. He slammed criticism to the state for its keenness on developing the road networks nationwide, saying this is being implemented in line with planning by specialists and experts.
Building and reforming states is not an easy task, Sisi said, adding that the amount of work needed in the country is enormous, and requires working round the clock, for decades, tirelessly, and with huge funds. President Sisi underscored the need to reform the past, and then build a new one.
He assured Egyptians that their country is on the right track, revealing that work would start by the end of next year on the cultivation of 2.5 million feddans that are considered extension of the governorate of Beheira.
Referring to the New Administrative Capital (NAC), President Sisi said it is a mega project that comprises several distinctive landmarks, such as the Iconic Tower, the City of Arts and Culture, with the largest opera house in the Middle East, and the Capital Library, which hosts more than 70,000 printed books, in addition to the Egypt’s Capitals Museum (ECM).
On the state’s hard effort in the health sector, the president said that the initiative to eliminate waiting lists of critical surgeries hasn’t only helped provide medical treatment to people, but also contributed to doctors’ training through rising amount of work over a period of four years.
Meanwhile, President Sisi referred to the need of $80 billion to $90 billion to meet the demand on the foreign currency in Egypt, urging businessmen and investors to help bridge the dollar gap.
He also stressed the need to reduce the imports bill and increase exports to refresh the local economy. President Sisi confirmed that the state can only progress by controlling the greenback.
There is a list of 150 production supplies that provide $25 to $30 billion, the president said. When these supplies are pumped into the industry, the gross domestic product (GDP) will increase.
President Sisi stressed the flexibility of the exchange rate in Egypt, ‘but if the issue conflicts with national security, and comes at the expense of the Egyptian people’s lives, this is impermissible’.
With regard to development, the government spent LE150 billion on Decent Life initiative, and the total will hit LE1 trillion when finished, President Sisi declared. He added that the universities introduced over the past few years coupled with ones that previously existed would fulfill demand on higher education until 2050.
“We’re currently focusing on the manufacturing sector to serve four main purposes that are creating jobs, raising GDP, cutting imports, and boosting exports, and in turn, inflow of hard currency,” President Sisi underscored.
President Sisi went on to say that no one can accomplish something on their own, and that joint work is crucial to achieving success. “Look at you on the level of small communities. When someone goes through a crisis, with the help of all of you, they overcome it,” President Sisi said.
