National plan of action, regarding four major pivotal issues
Egypt, Politics, 2/3/2001

Egypt's Prime Minister Atef Ebeid announced Friday that the government is about to present a national plan of action, regarding four major pivotal issues defined and emphasized by President Mubarak's letter of assignment to Ebeid's government. The plan of action speaks of:

- Foreign and domestic investments and how to lure, promote and direct them.

- Exports as a priority complementary and related to investments.

- Unemployment.

- Improvement of services and making them available to all citizens.

This came in the interview Ebeid gave to the Middle East News Agency Editor -In-Chief Mahfouz E1-Ansari.

Ebeid added that the fifth issue included in the national plan of action is that of education which serves the first four issues by grooming qualified cadres capable of carrying out the afore mentioned tasks.

Speaking to MENA, Ebeid said that the responsibility for implementing this national plan of action rests with the government, all social powers, NGOs, businessmen and intellectuals.

"The presented plan is the "policy of a nation" and every element and member of this nation shoulders his responsibility and carries out his share of the common responsibility with competence," he added.

Ebeid said that the plan of action the government will put forward to the people in the near future is a detailed one governed by a binding timetable with dates for beginning and ending each project.

"Within the framework of this plan of action, responsibilities will be precisely defined for each party involved; the government ministries and institutions; the private sector and businessmen; and the civil society and NGOs," added Ebeid.

The accomplishment of all this requires comprehensive mobilization of society with all its forces, based on conviction and confidence, according to the premier.

Ebeid disclosed some aspects of the plan of action and the executive steps for implementing it.

Ebeid said that there is an all-out plan to be implemented, on short, medium and long term stages, with a definite timetable.

He made it clear that the nature of issues necessitates such action because of the interconnection and overlap between investments, exports, unemployment and improvement of services on the one hand, and productivity, quality and loyalty, on the other.

He cautioned against lagging behind the rapid pace of global production, development and modernization in a world with open borders and accessible markets and services.

"This plan of action, therefore, deals with training, rehabilitation and modernization and addresses the problem of unemployment," he added.

We live in an age of liberalism and the liberal society, Ebeid said, adding that in such a society it would be counter productive to just embrace liberal slogans without translating them on the ground.

Ebeid argued against the adoption of a liberal line just in theory, while at the same time exercising a socialist approach, and leaning heavily on the government.

Ebeid put the paradox in a nutshell, a liberal theory and socialist application. The government alone could not possibly do everything, unless we want our society to remain behind with no headway.

Alerting to the nearing end of the grace period in international partnership and GATT agreements, Premier Ebeid said it is exigent that Egypt be capable of moving, working and competing on the external and internal markets, away from the umbrella of protectionism.

"The government bears full responsibility as regards the plan of action and modernization," Ebeid said.

In order to guarantee streamlined execution of the national plan of action we have to provide citizens with health, education, transport, road and drinking water services, Ebeid said, adding that a good rapport between the public and government agencies should also be ensured.

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