The 2026 Egypt Forum recently took place, offering a platform for the Egyptian government to showcase its accomplishments and outline future plans. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly were among the key speakers, addressing various aspects of the country's development. The forum aimed to promote transparency and engage citizens in discussions about the nation's economic and social progress. A major focus was on the government's efforts to improve the lives of its citizens through various initiatives and projects.
President El-Sisi emphasized the importance of presenting accurate data and explaining the challenges faced by the country. He highlighted the government's commitment to transparency and accountability, encouraging open discussions and constructive criticism. The President also touched on the energy sector, revealing that Egypt has been working on developing a comprehensive energy infrastructure since 2014. This includes both traditional and renewable energy sources to meet the demands of citizens, production activities, and investments.
In the area of social protection, President El-Sisi noted that the government's support for citizens amounts to 840 billion Egyptian pounds. This includes expenditures on subsidies, healthcare, education, and housing. The President stressed the need for a more equitable and transparent system for distributing support, ensuring that it reaches those who need it most. Additionally, he mentioned that Egypt's strategic food reserves are sufficient for six months, providing a buffer against global market fluctuations.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly provided further details on the government's plans, focusing on economic transformation, the role of the private sector, and energy management. He outlined the National Economic Transformation Program for 2027-2030, which includes 40 targets and 185 actions. The program aims to improve living standards, increase income, and enhance the quality of services. It also seeks to promote women's participation in the economy and create decent job opportunities.
The Prime Minister discussed the challenges posed by rising energy costs, revealing that the current budget was prepared assuming an oil price of 75 dollars per barrel. However, with prices now exceeding 110 dollars, the government has had to absorb some of the increased costs to protect citizens from the full impact. This decision was made to prevent additional burdens on the population.
On the urban development front, Prime Minister Madbouly announced plans for 39 new cities, with 27 already under construction or completed. He emphasized that education and healthcare are top priorities, with a focus on improving the quality of education and preparing graduates for the job market. The government aims to develop the education system, enhance training, and expand technical and applied education.
The Egyptian government's efforts to address various challenges and improve the lives of its citizens were highlighted at the 2026 Egypt Forum. Key areas of focus include energy management, social protection, urban development, education, and healthcare. The government's commitment to transparency and engagement with citizens is seen as a positive step towards achieving sustainable development and improving the well-being of the population.
Key points
- The Egyptian government has committed to increasing the minimum pension to 2080 Egyptian pounds starting January next year.
- A total of 200,000 housing units are to be built for rent, shared equally with the private sector.
- The government has reduced the external debt of budgetary institutions by 6 billion dollars over three years.
