Government unveils plans for 2002

The Egyptian government laid out its action plans for the coming year in statements released yesterday.

Minister of Foreign Trade Youssef Boutros Ghali said that his ministry would follow four thrusts in its plans to activate the economy.

The plan calls for promoting exports to decrease the deficit in the balance of trade, upgrading the money market by attracting investments in the stock exchange, providing data to achieve transparency and developing small and medium industries.

Restructuring the Ministry of Foreign Trade following the cancellation of the economy portfolio, was a real challenge to all workers in the ministry," he said.

Minister of Transport Ibrahim Demiri said," The 2002-2007 five-year plan aims at alleviating the burden on the state budget adding that it includes a comprehensive plan for upgrading the infrastructure of the nation's railways and assuring the safe operation of various means of transportation."

"The financing comes from unconventional methods that depend on cooperation involving the private sector and foreign sources to expedite implementation of transportation service projects," he said.

Minister of Tourism Mamdouh El-Beltagi said his ministry's work plan aims firstly at intensifying world markets in which to promote tourism to Egypt.

International media would be employed to carry the message, and Egypt would participate in various tourism fairs and exhibitions during the coming year.

Beltagui pointed out that the government was continuing to support private Egyptian tourism companies by offering, among other measures, subsidies to charter flights and canceling taxes on hotels. He said that tourists from Arab countries, Scandinavia, Germany and the former Soviet Union were still keen on visiting Egypt.