Ebeid examines state modernization plans

The ministerial committee in charge of plans to modernize the State met yesterday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Atef Ebeid within the framework of the partnership agreement between Egypt and the European Union.

Minister of Information Safwat A1 Sherif said that the Prime Minister pointed out at the beginning of the meeting that the Egyptian-European partnership agreement will become valid when it is ratified by the People's Assembly during its current session .

The government will begin the modernization process in accordance with clear plans and a strategy which were discussed by the Cabinet. Several committees were set up in the various sectors and the plan will be discussed by committees of the People's Assembly and Shura Council.

Dr. Ebeid said that the government will lay down the strategy, plan and policies and follow-up and the mechanisms in the modernization process in a manner which would enable all sectors to realize a tangible progress in accordance with timetables and scientific and funding plans.

A1 Sherif said that discussions resulted in laying down a number of mechanisms as follows:

To review existing Egyptian units and centres which could be evaluated at the international level in the fields of industry or centres of training and scientific and agricultural research, specialized oil centres and to fix the level of each of these factories or centres and compare it with the international standard.

To modernize the models which could be repeated within the framework of the needs of the State, whether in training programmes, research centres on farms and factories which have reached an international level.