Mubarak to determine national action priorities in the upcoming stage

At his meeting today with the cabinet after the latest cabinet reshuffle, President Hosni Mubarak will determine national action priorities and the government assignments in the upcoming stage.

This meeting acquires a special significance in the light of President Mubarak's keenness to enhance the government's capability to cope with the latest renewables on the world scene, and to mitigate negative effects faced by the Egyptian economy as a result of September 11 incidents, to expand the government's capability to absorb the newcomers to labour market, to increase exports and limit imports, to encourage national, industry, develop the state machinery, to expand capacity of the Egyptian economy and to support investors.

These assignments are geared to complete the great achievements accomplished during the past 20 years during which a sum o LE 742 billions have been spent on raising standards of living for citizens.

Prime Minister Dr. Atef Ebeid said that the cabinet meeting under President Mubarak comes in the framework of the President's interest in making assessment of performance adding the President will explain the public opinion's assessment of performance of each minister.

The Prime Minister said that the government is faced with big assignments and challenges adding it will take measures for carrying programmes which are aimed at reactivating the market and sparing citizens the imposition of new burdens.

The Prime Minister told Al Ahram that the implementation of the national programme for Egypt's modernization tops the government concerns adding this programme will be based on developing natural resources and upgrading public utilities.

Dr. Ebeid said that the challenges facing the government include overpopulation, and how to upgrade the level of medical services and education in the various stages.

He said that the government will seek in the upcoming stage to make assessment of the state resources, to increase resources and to rationalize spending.

The Prime Minister said the government policy statement which he will make before the People's Assembly after Ramadan Barium will illustrate programmes for carrying out the assignments the President will give to the government today.

Commenting on the CBE and investments bank bills, the Prime Minister said the government will brief the President on the guidelines of the two bills which are aimed at enhancing the CBE role and expanding its powers.

He said the investment bank bill aims at separating service savings from investment savings meaning that investment bank will be transferred into an economic bank.

The Prime Minister said total service savings in the bank have reached L.E 230 billion.

The Prime Minister said the government will discuss how to cut down government's demand on foreign exchange by one billion dollars until next June, through adjourning foreign procurements by the government and economic bodies until next year with exception to purchases of materials, spare parts and vital production supplies.