In a recent statement, Egyptian Social Insurance chief Gamal Ewad denied rumors of stolen insurance funds during the era of former President Hosni Mubarak. He emphasized that there was no truth to claims that the funds were misappropriated or that former Finance Minister Youssef Boutros Ghali had access to them. Ewad's comments came in response to speculation about the alleged theft of insurance funds.
Egyptian sailors who were held captive by Somali pirates for 151 days have recounted their harrowing experience. In an interview, they described the final hours of their ordeal, which included gunfire, beatings, and threats of death. The sailors also spoke of the dire conditions they faced, including a lack of food and water. Their ordeal ended with a military intervention that resulted in the pirates fleeing.
Transportation Minister Kamal El-Wazir has stated that Egypt aims to strengthen its position as a global trade and transit hub. He highlighted the country's strategic location and its extensive transportation network, which connects Egyptian ports to Arab countries. El-Wazir emphasized that Egypt's goal is to become an integral part of global trade.
The Egyptian Social Insurance chief, Gamal Ewad, has revealed that the new social insurance system offers 38 services to pensioners. He noted that a total of 171 services are available through the system. Ewad also mentioned that the maximum subscription wage for insurance is 16,700 Egyptian pounds.
The intervention by Egyptian authorities to rescue the sailors held by Somali pirates involved a military operation that targeted pirate boats off the coast of Somalia. According to the sailors, the operation led to the death of several pirates and crew members. The pirates subsequently abandoned the ship, leaving the sailors behind.
Minister Kamal El-Wazir also emphasized that Egypt is not selling its ports, but rather working to develop its transportation infrastructure. He noted that if Egypt had not invested in road development, the country would have become a "large garage" due to congestion.
The Egyptian Social Insurance system handles a significant volume of requests, with around 120,000 daily inquiries related to pensions. The system has processed approximately 15.94 million services, which are divided into two main categories: services provided through front offices and those executed by back offices.
Key points
- Egyptian authorities have denied rumors of stolen insurance funds during the era of former President Hosni Mubarak.
- Egyptian sailors have recounted their 151-day ordeal at the hands of Somali pirates.
- Egypt aims to become a global trade and transit hub, leveraging its strategic location and transportation network.
