Prime Minister Highlights Continued Efforts to Develop Higher Education System

Dr. Mustafa Madbouly, Egypt’s Prime Minister, chaired the weekly cabinet meeting today at the new administrative capital to discuss various issues and files.

During the meeting, he noted the ongoing political uncertainty in the region, stemming from conflicting positions among disputing parties and the lack of a final agreement to resolve the current conflict. He also highlighted escalating events in the Gulf and Lebanon, which create a climate of anticipation regarding future developments.

These regional tensions have adversely affected oil prices and supply chains, with rising fears over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz impacting trade and energy flows. The crisis has manifested in increased transportation and shipping costs.

Dr. Madbouly also discussed recent presidential activities undertaken by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi regarding Egypt’s stance on these regional crises. He referenced President El-Sisi’s reception of a delegation from major American Jewish organizations this week, where representatives heard his vision for achieving regional stability and Egypt’s efforts to de-escalate tensions while supporting ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran to resolve the current crisis and mitigate its economic and political repercussions.

The Prime Minister mentioned a phone call between President El-Sisi and French President Emmanuel Macron, during which they discussed recent developments on both regional and international fronts. He noted President El-Sisi’s appreciation for the significant alignment between Egypt and France on various issues of mutual concern, including French support for efforts to reach a fair solution to the Palestinian issue and the crisis in Lebanon, as well as ways to enhance bilateral relations.

Dr. Madbouly then shifted focus to President El-Sisi’s oversight of government initiatives across different sectors. He highlighted discussions around the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s vision for transforming Egypt into a regional and international hub for higher education, research, and innovation. This initiative aims to build a knowledge-based economy that attracts students and researchers globally.

He remarked that there are directives from President El-Sisi to continue efforts in enhancing the higher education system as it is a cornerstone for developing human resources in Egypt and achieving sustainable development. This includes strengthening partnerships in higher education through establishing foreign branches via modern cross-border collaboration models aimed at building national capacities, maximizing economic returns, and improving international rankings.

The Prime Minister emphasized that education remains a top priority on the government’s agenda as it is essential for building Egyptian citizens. The government is committed to keeping pace with global changes in both pre-university and university education while enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian universities regionally and internationally, as well as supporting scientific research and innovation.

He also discussed his recent extensive tour inspecting several service and development projects in Giza across sectors such as education, health, tourism, roads, and pharmaceuticals. This effort aligns with the government’s ongoing commitment to monitor project implementation rates in these vital areas to improve services provided to citizens per President El-Sisi’s directives on continuous monitoring of service project progress.

In this context, Dr. Madbouly assured that the government will continue its efforts to oversee service projects across various governorates to expedite their completion for citizens’ benefit.

The Prime Minister mentioned several meetings held this week focusing on updates regarding support system development and enhancing social protection programs while reviewing progress on projects aimed at strengthening the national electricity grid.

He stated his commitment to monitoring support system development efforts while discussing proposals for updating support mechanisms that align with economic and social changes. These updates aim to create a more flexible and sustainable system based on updated databases and advanced governance mechanisms that ensure accurate targeting and efficient resource management while coordinating with relevant authorities to complete studies related to this development.

Additionally, he noted an ongoing meeting focused on steps taken towards strengthening the national electricity grid due to its critical importance for ensuring reliable electricity supply for residential and developmental uses alongside expanding electricity production from renewable sources.