Egypt stresses human capital investment as pillar of sustainable development
Egypt's Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, has emphasized the central role of investing in human capital to achieve inclusive and sustainable national development. He also called for fostering a stronger sense of civic responsibility among youth to ensure their active participation in decision-making.
Abdel Ghaffar made his remarks during the periodic meeting of Egypt's Ministerial Group for Human Development, which he chaired. The session was attended by several cabinet members, including Ministers of Youth and Sports, Social Solidarity, Justice, Endowments, and Local Development, as well as deputy ministers and senior advisors.
At the outset of the meeting, Abdel Ghaffar underscored the importance of coordinated ministerial efforts in advancing Egypt's Sustainable Development Strategy – Vision 2030. He highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and digital transformation in enhancing productivity and reducing operational burdens, calling for proactive readiness for these emerging trends.
He stressed the need to improve Egypt's Human Development Indicators (HDIs), which remain a national priority across sectors including health, education, and social protection. 'Analyzing HDI data helps direct development policies and programs efficiently,' he said, citing efforts to empower youth and women and improve quality of life.
Abdel Ghaffar reviewed joint governmental initiatives to modernize Egypt's education system at all levels, from pre-university to higher education. He also addressed legislative proposals aimed at combating challenges such as school dropouts, child labor, early marriage, violence, bullying, and discrimination against people with disabilities—issues with wider implications for population dynamics and societal stability.
He further emphasized the need to equip youth with both technical and soft skills to reduce unemployment, foster economic growth, and sustain sectors heavily reliant on skilled labor.
Youth and Sports Minister Ashraf Sobhy showcased the ministry's efforts in talent discovery, skill-building, and youth empowerment through a broad range of programs. He stressed the necessity of cross-sectoral coordination to achieve national development goals.
Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy presented her ministry's initiatives to extend social protection to vulnerable groups and connect them with vocational training and empowerment programs, ensuring their effective integration into society.
Justice Minister Adnan Fanjari called for long-term strategies that address all age groups, stressing that consistent follow-up is crucial to achieving tangible results.
Minister of Endowments Osama El-Azhari highlighted the ministry's commitment to 'human development through values,' announcing an upcoming launch of a digital platform that will offer educational and spiritual content, interactive videos, children's games, and a GPT-based chatbot. He welcomed collaboration between this platform and the national human development platform to align awareness messages and amplify societal impact.
Local Development Minister Manal Awad emphasized the vital role that Egypt's governorates play in translating human development plans into local action, underscoring the importance of customizing programs to address region-specific needs and maximize available resources.
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Egypt Independent
a day ago
- Egypt Independent
Trump grants TikTok another 90-day extension in enforcement of sale-or-ban law
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It's been about five months since a law requiring TikTok to be banned in the United States unless it's sold off by its China-based parent company technically went into effect. But thanks to President Donald Trump's promises not to enforce the law, neither of those things have happened, aside from an approximately 14-hour blackout in January. Tuesday's announcement marks Trump's third extension of the ban. The announcement means that the app will remain accessible for its 170 million American users despite the legislation that passed last year with bipartisan support over concerns that TikTok's Chinese ownership poses a US national security risk. And it comes as both the United States and China seek leverage in tense trade talks, in which TikTok appears to have become a bargaining chip. The TikTok sale-or-ban law went into effect on January 19 after it was signed by former President Joe Biden last year. TikTok briefly took itself offline, sparking outcry from creators, but quickly came back after Trump signed an order delaying the ban's enforcement by 75 days. It was one of his first acts as president, made in hopes of reaching a deal to keep the app 'alive.' In April, a deal that would have transferred majority control of TikTok's US operations to American ownership was nearly finalized. But it fell apart after Trump announced additional tariffs on China, forcing the president to announce another 75-day delay to keep the app operational in the United States. 'There are key matters to be resolved. Any agreement will be subject to approval under Chinese law,' TikTok parent company ByteDance said after Trump's tariff policy stalled progress on the deal in April. That pause was set to expire on June 19, before Trump's Thursday executive order. . Trump's latest enforcement delay raises questions about the status of a deal that could secure TikTok's long-term future in the United States. The Chinese government has offered little public indication that it would be willing to approve a sale beyond suggesting that any deal could not include TikTok's 'algorithm,' which has been called the app's secret sauce. In a statement on Thursday, TikTok indicated that it is still in talks with the office of Vice President JD Vance — who Trump appointed to oversee the effort — on a deal that would secure the popular short-form video platform's future in the United States. 'We are grateful for President Trump's leadership and support in ensuring that TikTok continues to be available for more than 170 million American users and 7.5 million U.S. businesses that rely on the platform as we continue to work with Vice President Vance's Office,' TikTok said in a statement. The new extension comes after the United States and China agreed on a framework to ease export controls, a move that's expected to ease tensions and prevent further escalation of export and other restrictions between the two countries. It's not clear whether a TikTok deal is included in the framework, but cooperation between the two sides could make an agreement to transfer control of the app to a US buyer more likely. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump told reporters that a TikTok deal would 'probably' require approval by the Chinese government and said, 'I think we'll get it.' 'I think President Xi will ultimately approve it, yes,' the US president added. The deal that had been in the making earlier this year would have involved several American venture capital funds, private equity firms and tech giants investing in a company that would control TikTok's US operations. 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Egypt Today
2 days ago
- Egypt Today
PM tours factories manufacturing ultrasound machines, televisions and mobile screens
PM Madbouly during his inspection tour at 6 of October factories CAIRO - 19 JUNE 2025: Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly began Thursday his inspection tour of several factories in 6 of October City that manufacture ultrasound machines, televisions, and mobile phones. As part of his tour, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, inspected the project to establish the first factory in Africa and the Middle East to manufacture ultrasound machines and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, located in 6th of October City. This project is considered an important step towards strengthening Egypt's position as a regional center for medical technology. This project is the result of a strategic partnership between GE Healthcare, a global leader in medical technology and digital solutions, and Medinova, a subsidiary of Al Safi Group. The goal is to develop an advanced facility in Egypt for the production of medical imaging devices, contributing to improving the quality of diagnostic healthcare and supporting the goals of Egypt's Vision 2030. Upon his arrival at the factory site, the Prime Minister affirmed that the Egyptian state is taking serious steps toward localizing several important industries and deepening the industry, with the participation of the local and foreign private sector, which has become a strategic partner in various development projects implemented by the state. There is also a strong trend toward localizing vital industries and strengthening international partnerships. In this context, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly explained that he had met with the CEO of GE Healthcare at the end of last year to review the project to manufacture ultrasound devices in Egypt. "As a government, we are confident that this will be a pioneering project in this field and will achieve the Egyptian state's goals in its plan to localize medical industries and devices," Madbouly said, emphasizing that the ongoing cooperation with GE Healthcare embodies an ambitious national vision aimed at advancing the healthcare system in Egypt. For his part, the Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population praised the ongoing cooperation with the company, noting that localizing the medical device industry is a priority for the Ministry of Health. He expressed his appreciation for the company's choice of Egypt to localize the manufacture of ultrasound devices, in order to meet the needs of the Egyptian market and subsequently expand and export, particularly to Africa. In this context, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar explained that the project to establish the first factory in Egypt and the Middle East to manufacture ultrasound devices "is a milestone in the history of manufacturing." The National Medical Center will directly contribute to supporting the healthcare sector's infrastructure, improving the quality of diagnostic services, and reducing reliance on imports. This will support market stability and provide advanced healthcare solutions for Egyptian citizens. During the tour, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, reviewed the project's advantages, which go beyond manufacturing, but also include the transfer and localization of technology and the training of Egyptian cadres. This will enhance human resource efficiency and strengthen local capabilities to transform Egypt into a regional center for the manufacture of advanced medical devices. He emphasized the Ministry of Health's continued support for these efforts, in coordination with various ministries and institutions, to achieve health, economic, and social development goals. Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar added that this initiative comes within the framework of an integrated strategy adopted by the Ministry of Health and Population, in cooperation with the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical Supply and Supply, and the Medical Technology Department, and with the participation of relevant state authorities. This aims to support the local pharmaceutical and medical equipment industries, in line with the goals of Egypt Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy, develop strategic industries, and provide new job opportunities for Egyptian youth, while enhancing the country's export capacity to regional markets, particularly African markets. At the same time, The Deputy Prime Minister indicated that the establishment of the factory is a "strategic step toward establishing the foundations for a medical future whose components are manufactured by Egyptian hands. It opens broad horizons for a national healthcare system that is competitive, resilient in the face of challenges, and efficient in meeting the needs of Egyptian citizens." For his part, Mark Stoesz, President Enterprise Solutions and Partnerships International Markets at GE Healthcare, emphasized that "there are several motivations that encouraged us as a manufacturing company to establish operations in Egypt, most notably the Egyptian government's growing interest in healthcare, a focus that has not wavered or diminished despite the economic challenges facing the Egyptian government." He added that Egypt's large market, home to approximately 110 million citizens, also contributes to making Egypt a hub for entry into the African market. During his tour of the project, the Prime Minister listened to an explanation from Eng. Mohamed Haroun, General Manager of GE Healthcare Africa, who indicated that the new facility will localize the manufacturing and assembly of ultrasound and MRI systems to meet the growing demand in both the public and private sectors. By localizing these vital industries, the initiative contributes to achieving several pillars of Egypt's Vision 2030, including enhancing economic diversification, creating new job opportunities, and achieving self-sufficiency in medical technology. He added: "The factory will also enable the export of devices to regional markets, particularly in Africa, strengthening Egypt's role as a regional hub for innovation and production in the healthcare sector." Dr. Mostafa Madbouly also visited the site of a project to manufacture television and phone screens at the Safi Group factory in 6 of October city. He viewed the board production line, how they are manufactured, and how they are tested before moving on to the next production stage to ensure their safety. He then moved on to learn about the router production line, and then went to see the TV screen assembly stage. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister inquired about the percentage of local components, with the factory manager indicating that a large percentage of local components are relied upon in manufacturing, and there is a trend towards increasing this percentage in the coming stages. Engineer Safi Wahba, Founder and Chairman of Al Safi Investment Group, indicated that the total area of the Al Safi factory (which includes production lines for ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging devices, in addition to production lines for communications devices, mobile phones, television screens, and others) is 25,000 square meters. The direct workforce is 2,000, while the indirect workforce is 1,000, with 25 production lines. 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Before concluding his inspection tour of the project, the Prime Minister reiterated his government's willingness to provide the company with all necessary support and facilities, encouraging it to explore manufacturing more medical devices beyond ultrasound machines. The Prime Minister was accompanied during his inspection tour of the project site by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population; Lieutenant General Kamel El Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport; Eng. Adel El Naggar, Governor of Giza; Dr. Ali El Ghamrawy, Head of the Egyptian Drug Authority; and Dr. Hisham Steit, Head of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical Supply, and Medical Technology Management. The event was welcomed by Mark Stoesz, President Enterprise Solutions and Partnerships International Markets at GE Healthcare; Eng. Safi Wahba, Founder and Chairman of Al Safi Group Investment; Dr. Hazem El Far, Chairman of Medinova, a subsidiary of Al Safi Group; Eng. Mohamed Haroun, General Manager of GE Healthcare Africa; Eng. Diaa Shaarawy, Chief Operating Officer of Al Safi Group; Eng. Islam Adel, General Manager of the Plant; and Maxime Auger, General Manager of the Ultrasound Division.
Daily News Egypt
3 days ago
- Daily News Egypt
China's Sunrev to invest $200m in solar component industrial complex in Egypt's Sokhna
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly witnessed on Wednesday the signing of a contract to establish an integrated industrial complex for the production of solar energy components in Ain Sokhna's industrial zone, part of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE). The project will be developed by Chinese firm Sunrev Solar. The contract was signed by Cao Hui, Managing Director of TEDA, and Qi Fei, Managing Director of Sunrev Solar, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir, and Chairperson of SCZONE Walid Gamal El-Din. The project will involve the construction of two integrated factories in its first phase: one for producing solar cells and another for solar modules, each with a capacity of 2 gigawatts. The second phase will focus on localising the production of key raw materials—such as silicon ingots and wafers—completing the full solar component value chain. Prime Minister Madbouly highlighted the strategic advantages of SCZONE in attracting diverse investments, especially in renewable energy. He reiterated the government's commitment to localising new and renewable energy technologies and providing incentives to support their growth. SCZONE Chairperson Walid Gamal El-Din described the project as one of the zone's largest industrial investments in renewable energy components. Spanning 200,000 square metres, the project will see a total investment of $200m—$90m for the first phase and $110m for the second. It is expected to create over 1,800 direct jobs across both phases and generate annual export revenues of up to $300 million. The foundation stone will be laid on Thursday, with the first phase scheduled to begin operations in the first half of 2026. Gamal El-Din emphasised that the project reflects the confidence of major international investors in SCZONE's business climate and supports the authority's broader strategy to localise advanced industries and integrate solar energy production chains—from raw materials to finished products. He reaffirmed SCZONE's commitment to providing all necessary support to ensure the project's timely execution. Sunrev Solar is one of the world's leading manufacturers of solar energy components. This investment aligns with Egypt's national strategy to transition to a green economy, promote clean energy industries, and advance the goals of Egypt's Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Strategy.
