SDG Summit 2023 in NY:Planning Minister participates in a session on economic prospects and SDGs

 New York on September 19, 2023 

 

 

H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, attended the session "Economic Perspective and Agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals" organized by the World Economic Forum (WEF), which together with his participation was the Sustainable Development Goals of United Nations Summit held September 18-19 in New York. 

 

 In her speech, Dr. Hala El-Said explained that the world is currently facing unprecedented challenges that have had a great impact on various economic sectors, especially in developing and middle-income countries, because these challenges have caused high inflation. 

 

 El-Said noted that success in the implementation of the economic reform program and the existence of a financial situation during the confrontation of the COVID-19 pandemic helped Egypt to deal with these challenges, which helped to overcome the negative effects of the pandemic. 

  El-Said referred to the launch of a national restructuring program. The program focuses on improving the business environment, making Egypt's economy more resilient, and paving the way for a productive economy with competitive advantages that support the economy's ability to achieve balance and sustainable economic growth.  

 

 The Minister of Planning and Economic Development emphasized the importance of the issue of food security in Egypt and the focus on the real side of the economy and showed pillars that support structural reforms, which include increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the labor market, as well as the development of technical education and the vocational training system.  Regarding Egypt's economic outlook for 2024; Dr. Hala El-Said said that 4 percent growth is expected, but the most important thing is where this growth will come from, pointing to sectors achieving positive growth, which include tourism, agriculture, construction, and logistics fields.

 

 

 

 In other words, growth comes from different sectors, which partially solves the problem of unemployment when the unemployment rate is 7%.  

 

 Regarding the localization of sustainable development goals, the Minister of Planning emphasized the importance of localization and the fact that approximately 65% of international sustainable development goals must be implemented at the local level. 

 

  El-Said referred to the Decent Life initiative, which aims to improve the lives of citizens in rural areas, which make up more than 59 percent of Egypt's population, as an example of the localization of sustainability goals, because the initiative provides quality services in various sectors such as sanitation and clean water supply.

  El-Said added that the "Decent Life for Climate Resilient Africa" initiative was launched during COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh under the Egyptian presidency, supported by several international organizations United. Organizations of nations and some African countries.  

 

 El-Said also referred to the investment department of the Egyptian government, the Egyptian State Fund, which offers various investment opportunities to national and foreign investors, focusing on implementing the government's strategy to attract investments from the Egyptian and foreign private sectors. 

 

 Regarding the digital and technological divide between men and women in developing countries, Dr. Hala El-Said emphasized the importance of closing this gap and referred to the initiative "She is for the Digital Future" through the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development” (NIGSD)  - the education department of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, which focuses on capacity building. 

 

 

 

 

She also referred to the Green Minds initiative, which aims to make schoolchildren aware of climate change.  El-Said also emphasized the importance of the climate agenda, citing recent floods in Libya, an earthquake in Morocco, heat waves in India, and a cyclone in Pakistan.  

 

 El-Said explained that developing countries spend about 5% of their GDP to adapt to climate change, and according to recent estimates from the United Nations Environmental Report, developing countries need $150-300 billion to adapt.  

 

 Dr. Hala El-Said concluded his speech by emphasizing the importance of investing in people to realize the true prosperity of any country, especially developing countries, to fight against climate change, emphasizing that finance is an integral part of the climate.