Strategic studies institute planned

"Egypt will set up an institute for strategic studies to provide the government with the studies required for economic and social development," Prime Minister Atef Ebeid said following talks with a World Bank (WB) delegation yesterday. The institute will be established with the assistance of the WB and the Arab Development Fund (ADF).

PM Ebeid added that work on the institute will begin in February, pointing out that it will benefit much from Egyptians who have acquired experience through working for international institutions including the WB.

He voiced hope it will be on the level of similar institutes in advanced countries. One of the aspects on which the institute will focus is a program for supporting poor classes by offering them soft loans to help them launch a small business that could secure a regular income.

Meanwhile, Ebeid attended yesterday the ceremony held for the graduation of a 120-member batch of public enterprise sector leader-training center.

He pointed to its significant contribution to the restructuring process of many public sector companies.

Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Public Enterprise Mokhtar Khattab stressed the attention of the government to both the public and private sectors so as to achieve the aims of the economic policies such as enhancing growth and production rates.

"One of the essential aspects of these policies is the adoption of modern systems of administration in the production process which help cope with the changes on the world market," Khattab added.

He also underlined the importance of the human cadres as part of the government's program for the coming period.