Gov’t seeks to empower young people to shape the future of development in Egypt: Planning Minister
05 July 2022
H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, witnessed on Tuesday the closing ceremony of the "Youth for Development" initiative, which was launched by the ministry in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and the Supreme Council of Universities.
During her speech, El-Said pointed out that the Youth Development Initiative, and today's meeting, expressed the Egyptian state's tendency to follow the participatory approach in all development plans since the launch of Egypt's Vision 2030 in 2016, which is the national version of the UN goals.
El-Said explained that the vision was launched with the participation of the government, the private sector, civil society, universities, youth, and women, who represent an active element in that vision and all development plans.
El-Said stressed the keenness of the Egyptian state and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, which is responsible for setting the long-term plan and vision, as well as the medium-term and annual plans of the Egyptian state, with the importance and presence of a close relationship between academic institutions and executive institutions.
El-Said referred to the Human Development Report, which last year monitored ten years of the Egyptian state's achievements, stressing that it was important for universities to participate as the factory of minds in all countries.
She explained that Egypt enjoys that 60% of its population is young, stressing that they represent the national wealth that is relied upon to build the future and draw development plans, and that the participation of Egyptian youth was essential to the achievements made in the development level in the past ten years.
El-Said added that it was necessary for the youth to participate, who will have to achieve Egypt's Vision 2030, to follow up on the achievements and challenges and improve them in the future.
Dr. Hala El-Said confirmed that the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development has a wide range of initiatives, the most important of which is the national project for the development of the Egyptian family, in which young people participate.
El-Said touched on the ministry's activities targeting Egyptian youth, referring to the initiative of the ambassadors of sustainable development to introduce the Egyptian youth to the sustainable development goals, as well as the climate ambassadors initiative that is being implemented with Egyptian universities, as well as the green minds initiative, within the framework of Egypt's hosting of the Cop27 Conference of Parties.
El-Said explained the keenness to hear the ideas and creativity of young people, which opens up new and different ideas, initiatives, and innovations, in addition to the initiatives of future leaders, which are carried out with a group of Egyptian universities as well as universities abroad, also referring to the initiative for women in leadership and women in decision-making.
El-Said explained that all these activities confirm that the government’s role is not limited to university work and the work of young people in universities, as well as professors, thinkers, and experts within Egyptian universities, stressing the importance of continuing cooperation and a close relationship with them to develop projects, ideas, and plans.
The Minister of Planning and Development distributed certificates of honor to the winning teams in the competition launched by the initiative, and was keen to encourage the award-winning youth and urged them to communicate and interact with all the ministry's initiatives.