The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development reviews the basic pillars of the medium-term (22/2023 - 25/2026) plan

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development issued recently a report on the basic data of the medium-term plan (22/2023 - 25/2026), within the framework of the ministry’s launch of a series of data on the economic and social development plan for the fiscal year 2023/2024 and the second year of the medium-term plan.

H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, explained the state of uncertainty that the world is witnessing as a result of the unprecedented international economic and geopolitical circumstances, the repercussions of which have affected the world’s economies without exception, including the Egyptian economy.

She further noted that this state of uncertainty requires the adoption of economic policies in the current period - characterized by a high degree of flexibility and adaptation to the changing conditions.

El-Said pointed out the need for development plans to be more conservative in their estimates of their targets in light of a cautious and moderate growth scenario that is capable of dealing with and adapting to future developments to confirm the ability of the Egyptian economy to withstand and recover.

Regarding the initiatives of the political leadership within the pillars of the plan, El-Said stressed that given the importance of these initiatives and their positive effects on the quality of life of the citizens, the plan document pays special attention to the section concerned with human and social development to the relevant presidential initiatives, the implementation of which will continue to be implemented during the years of the plan.

El-Said referred to the Decent Life Initiative to develop the Egyptian countryside, the initiative to control population growth and improve the characteristics of the Egyptian family, and the comprehensive health insurance program, whose umbrella extends to include several other governorates, other than the governorates of the first phase, as well as initiatives aimed at continuing to support small and micro enterprises.

El-Said also explained that the plan was launched with several main pillars, including full commitment to the objectives of the pillars of the National Human Rights Strategy, affirming the right to development, which the Egyptian state attaches utmost importance in its development orientation.

The report of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development indicated that the intellectual framework of the medium-term development plan is based on a set of key data that govern development directions, priorities, and policies, and influence the levels of economic and social performance. They represent axioms emanating from Egypt’s Vision 2030 and are compatible with its goals and development strategy.

The report enumerated these data into points that included the fact that the primary goal of all development and reform efforts is to improve the quality of life of the Egyptian citizen, in addition to providing the elements of sustainability for the economic renaissance that requires preserving natural wealth, preserving its sources, and rationalizing their use.

According to the report, the data included that enhancing citizenship and achieving social cohesion will only be achieved by providing and enabling opportunities in an equal manner for all segments of society and geographical regions, in a way that allows for addressing the differences between levels of wealth and income and achieving the desired convergence in the living conditions of all, alike.

The data also included that the rational approach to maximizing the use of national wealth resources requires relying on comparative and competitive advantages, which would enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy on the map of the global economy and accelerate the wheel of economic growth and employment in a balanced and equitable manner economically, socially and spatially.

The Ministry of Planning report referred to the numerous political leadership initiatives that were launched during the last four years (2018 - 2022) to support social safety networks and improve the health conditions of citizens, especially women, and children, as well as improve the living conditions of young people by launching initiatives to encourage self-employment, creativity, and innovation. 

The report reviewed several initiatives, the most prominent of which included the National Project for the Development of the Egyptian Rural Area, the “Decent Life” presidential initiative (58 million people), the Comprehensive Health Insurance Initiative to cover all governorates of the Republic, the Takaful and Karama (Solidarity and Dignity) Initiative to develop social safety networks, in addition to the Early Detection of Disability Initiative, the '100 Million Seha' campaign to detect Hepatitis C and non-communicable diseases, and an initiative to support Egyptian women’s health (Early detection of breast diseases and non-communicable diseases), in addition to an initiative for early detection of anemia, obesity and stunting.

The Ministry of Planning report also reviewed the National Human Rights Strategy within the pillars of the medium-term plan (22/2023 - 25/2026), where the report explained that the medium-term development plan pays special attention to directing public investments in a way that achieves the goals of the axes of the National Human Rights Strategy, in particular the second pillar is related to economic and social rights, and the third pillar is concerned with the rights of women, children, people of determination, youth, and the elderly.

The Ministry of Planning report continued that, in recognition of the importance of integrating human rights into the state’s general policy, the Ministry is preparing development plans in a way that confirms the firm belief that the Egyptian person is the focus of the development process and its primary goal.

This is within the framework of a participatory approach that includes all stakeholders in the decision-making process.

The report indicated that the Ministry has prepared a guide to put the National Human Rights Strategy into practice, the Guide includes a set of quantifiable standards to direct public spending, and to monitor the impact of investment projects funded from the state’s general budget.

The report explained that the primary purpose of issuing a guide to investment spending responsive to human rights is to include human rights standards in the project proposals submitted by implementing agencies so that the performance of these projects is measured and evaluated within a more comprehensive framework that includes national goals in achieving balanced and sustainable development.