Egypt’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development holds a workshop with world-renowned economy professor Jeffrey D. Sachs

Egypt’s Decent Life initiative is a model for development projects that achieve SDGs:Says Sachs

Egypt’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development held recently a workshop at the headquarters of the Institute of National Planning (INP) with the international expert Jeffrey Sachs, head of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University in the United States of America.

 The workshop witnessed the participation of Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)and Dr. Ashraf El-Araby, President of the Institute of National Planning (INP), And some experts and academics.
The workshop discussed many topics such as the knowledge economy and its importance, environmental crises, the need for regional cooperation, and geopolitical changes.
During the panel discussion, Dr. Hala Rl-Said said that in light of the recent developments that have taken place in the world; It is more important than ever to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
 El-Said referred to the modernization based on Egypt's Vision 2030, which comes intending to keep pace with global developments from the Corona pandemic to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
She added that last July, Egypt submitted the third Voluntary National Review (VNR)report to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum, which measures progress in achieving the sustainable development goals.

The Minister of Planning and Economic Development stressed that to consolidate the gains of the first phase of the Egyptian economic reform program launched by the government in 2016; The state has started the second phase of economic reform, which is the National Program for Structural Reforms, launched by the Prime Minister in April 2021.
El-Said also referred to the national project for the development of the Egyptian family, which depends on improving demographic characteristics such as education, health, job opportunities, economic empowerment, and culture, in addition to controlling population growth, with the integration of the population component in economic and social development plans.

For her part, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, reviewed the mechanisms for integrating environmental sustainability standards and the climate challenge within the developmental transformation period that Egypt is going through.


Concerning climate finance, the Minister of Environment stressed the need to find an innovative financing mechanism that allows a mixture of public and private financing, find ways to access sources of financing and search for low-cost technology.


During the meeting, Jeffrey Sachs reviewed some issues, referring to the geopolitical changes that are currently taking place, explaining that Egypt has a great opportunity to attract green investments in the field of renewable energy.

 Sachs highlighted the Benban plant in Aswan, which is the largest solar power plant and one of the most promising projects in Africa.
Sachs pointed out that Egypt enjoys a bright sun that can be optimally exploited in providing its needs for renewable energy and exporting it abroad, to be one of the most important points for achieving progress in the field of renewable energy.
He further explained that the biggest problem facing investment in renewable energy is the investor's bearing of all expenses and capital costs, stressing that the world needs to change its beliefs and encourage the transition toward the economy and green investment.

Jeffrey Sachs expressed his admiration for the Decent Life Initiative, stressing that humanitarian principles are the basis for a decent life.

He added that the Decent Life Initiative is a model for development projects that achieve sustainable development goals.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin referred to the Cop 27 climate conference that Egypt will host, explaining the importance of the success of this conference, as it is not only a conference to talk but also to take effective steps to preserve the planet.

During his speech, Dr. Ashraf El-Araby reviewed the history of the establishment of the Institute of National Planning (INP)as the first independent think tank in the field of planning and development in the Arab region, the Arab Gulf states, the Middle East, and Africa.
He explained that INP provides technical support to the government and the private sector through its scientific methods that include training, consulting, and community services.