Minor cabinet reshuffle
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak signed Wednesday a Presidential Decree introducing a minor cabinet reshuffle in six cabinet posts.
The reshuffle gave room to four new Ministers as two minister from the old cabinet took other portfolios.
According to the Presidential decree, dr. Fayza Abul Naga is appointed as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Earlier, she was head of the Egyptian permanent delegation to the UN European Geneva seat. Dr. Mohamed Othman will take over the Ministry of Planning; he was acting as the head of the National Institute for Planning.
Engineer Mamdouh Riyadh Tadrous will serve as Minister of Environment. Tadrous was the first Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Engineer Hassan Youssef will serve as the Minister of Electricity; he was head of the Egyptian Holding Company for electricity for Electricity.
Ali Al Saiedi was shifted the post of Minister of Electricity to become Minister of Industry while Dr. Youssef Botrous Ghali, Former Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, was appointed as Minister of Foreign Trade.
The new ministers are due to take the oath before President Mubarak Thursday morning in the Presidential Palace with Prime Minister Dr. Atef Ebeid attending. Mubarak also decided to merge the Ministry of International cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mubarak issued four decrees on Wednesday re-cognizing several ministries and sectors.
Mubarak's first decree on the Ministry of Foreign Trade defines its objectives as boosting trade ties with other countries, promoting exports and attracting investments, regulating imports, the update of work mechanisms inside the ministry, qualifying personnel and supervising trade offices abroad.
The second decree stipulates the creation of the International Cooperation sector inside the Foreign Ministry.
Mubarak assigned the sector to prepare investment, bilateral, regional and international agreements as well as those pertaining to loans and grants.
The sector will also be responsible for drafting legislations and regulations of international cooperation.
Mubarak also decreed the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones to be affiliated to the Prime Minister and get the Companies Authority incorporated in it.
The same decree also stipulates that the Higher Council for Insurance, insurance companies and other insurance-related bodies be affiliated to the Minister of Planning.
Mubarak also decreed the Minister of Foreign Trade to supervise the Capital Market Authority (CMA); the General Organization for International and Fairs and Exhibitions the Exports and Imports Control Authority; the General Authority of the Centre for development of Egyptian exports; the Egyptian Bank for Development of Exports; the Egyptian Company for Export Underwriting; the government 's delegate to the Federation of Cotton Exporters; and Trade Representation Offices.
The fourth Presidential Decree, pertaining to the Egyptian Investment Bank, transfers the affiliation of the bank to the Finance Minister and to be subject to the banks law.
Prime Minister Dr. Atef Ebeid met Wednesday night with new ministers introduced into the Cabinet.
Ebeid met Fayza Abul Naga who was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
She said she was proud she had been picked for the job. Abul Naga was Egypt's chief delegate to the UN European Geneva seat.
Ebeid also met Minister of Industry and Technological Development Ali Al-Saedi.
In press statements following the meeting, Al-Saedi highlighted the importance of his ministry in the development process and lauded efforts exerted for the modernization of industry.
"The coming phase requires the development of Egyptian industries to be capable of competing at the world level," the Minister added.
Ebeid conferred with Minister of Electricity and Energy Hassan Ahmed Yunis who voiced keenness of the ministry on providing the best quality services.
He added that special attention will be given to the increase of local manufacture of electric equipment depending on Egyptian resources.
Ebeid also conferred with new Minister of Planning Mohammad Othman.
The Ministry of Planning is tasked with boosting all services rendered by the State to citizens as well as creating new jobs, he said following the meeting.
Ebeid also met Mamdouh Riad Tadrous, who has been given the environment portfolio in the minor reshuffle unveiled Wednesday night.
Following the meeting Tadrous, whose last post was the Undersecretary of the Agriculture Ministry, said that he had been tasked with raising the environment in Egypt to world standards.
