In Cooperation with Terous Misr Foundation, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development Launches “Egypt Shall Pass” Initiative to Encourage the Private Sector

Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, in cooperation with Terous Misr Foundation, has launched an initiative that aims to encourage the private sector to retain employment and create new jobs to face Corona Virus crisis, with the participation of a large number of owners and heads of companies.

Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, said that the "Egypt Shall Pass" initiative is a popular initiative to counter the economic impacts of Corona Virus, explaining that the campaign is continuing and open to all businessmen and heads of companies. She added that the initiative seeks to preserve the outcomes of the economic reform program initiated by the state in 2016, reflecting on the increase in sustainable growth rates for more than three years now, as well as the low unemployment rates and high growth indicators in the first half of the year to the highest levels.  She noted that thanks to the positive results of this program, the GOE has been able to implement various economic, social and health measures to address the challenge of the Corona Virus pandemic, and this initiative came to intensify the community efforts to support the most affected groups, with the participation of civil society institutions, opinion leaders and private sector companies to encourage all programs and initiatives to support and develop the SME sector as one of the most affected sectors.

The Minister explained that in light of the crisis of Corona Virus outbreak, the GOE has adopted a set of economic and social measures consistent with the national sustainable development agenda ("Egypt Vision 2030"), as well as with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In solidarity with these measures, the initiative has been launched in partnership with civil society, stressing that the initiative will work to counter the impact on the first, second, eighth and seventeenth goals of the sustainable development objectives, which is consistent with Egypt vision 2030, especially in the areas of economic support and combating poverty, hunger, support for partnerships and community responsibility in light of the gains of the digital transformation era.

Rami Galal, advisor to the Minister of Planning and Economic Development for Media affairs and spokesperson for MPED, said that the initiative relies on modern technological social communication through the launch of an interactive website and social media platforms, as well as making use of audio and video media to contribute to public awareness and achieve the highest level of interaction with citizens.

Galal added that the initiative invited officials, employees of the civil organizations sector, heads and owners of companies and business to provide their services online in order to contribute to the health of their employees and families and support the national economy. The invitation was also made to artists, athletes and community stars as well as influential individuals in various areas to interact with the initiative and enter the challenge through the initiative's website.

Among the businessmen participating in the initiative are Dr. Ahmed Heikal, Chairman of Al-Qala’a Compnay for Financial Advisors, Mr. Ahmed Abu Hashima, Managing Director of Al-Masreen Iron Group, and Mr. Ahmed Al Sowaidi, Chairman of Al Sowaidi Electric Co.