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Annual Conference on Structural and Institutional Reforms in Egypt: A Pathway to Sustainable Growth
Translated by: Zeina Elamir

Under the Patronage of Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister:The  Annual Scientific Conference Kicked  Off in Collaboration Between Cairo University’s Faculty of Economics and Political Science and the Decision Support and Information Center of the Cabinet.  The conference was inaugurated with the aim of discussing the necessary structure reform necessary to catapult  Egypt on the pathway towards sustainable growth.

Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, stated that the conference represents a distinguished partnership between one of Egypt's oldest academic institutions and a leading government think tank.

Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, emphasized the government’s significant efforts to enhance the resilience of the Egyptian economy, enabling it to withstand challenges through effective economic policies.

Dr. Mohamed Sami Abdel-Sadek, President of Cairo University, presented the university’s experience and its role in supporting the state’s efforts in economic and institutional reform to achieve sustainable development.

The President of Cairo University noted that the institution has made unprecedented progress in international rankings, continuously striving to enhance institutional sustainability, and has established a company to manage and invest in its intellectual assets to benefit from research outputs and innovative ideas.

Dr. Osama El-Gohary, Assistant to the Prime Minister and Head of the Decision Support and Information Center, indicated that the conference provides actionable recommendations for decision-makers to support the reform and sustainable development agenda in light of global challenges.

Dr. Mahmoud Mohyidin highlighted the key challenges facing the Egyptian economy and the priorities following the current program with the International Monetary Fund.

Dr. Amena Helmy, Head of the Conference, described the Decision Support Center as one of the best leading think tanks, and the Faculty of Economics as an internationally accredited scientific beacon with top rankings.

Dr. Hanan Mohamed Ali, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, stated that the partnership between the faculty and the Decision Support Center exemplifies fruitful collaboration between academic work and practical application.

Dr. Mohamed Sami Abdel-Sadek presided over the opening session of the annual scientific conference of the Decision Support and Information Center, now in its second edition, titled "Structural and Institutional Reforms in Egypt: The Path to Sustainable Growth," held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, at the new administrative capital.

The conference was attended by Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk, former ministers and heads of agencies, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Sayed, Deputy President of Cairo University for Graduate Studies and Research, and a host of faculty members, researchers, and economists from Egypt and abroad.

During his address via video conference, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly highlighted the distinguished partnership between Cairo University, an esteemed academic institution, and the Decision Support Center, one of the leading government think tanks. He noted that the conference is taking place during a critical global period, as the world economy faces noticeable slowdowns due to escalating trade tensions and unprecedented levels of uncertainty regarding policies, which significantly impact governments’ ability to deal with complex challenges. He emphasized that the global economic system, which has been in operation for the past eighty years based on cooperation and international pluralism, is being reshaped, marking the entry into a new economic era with unclear economic outlines.

In her address, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, discussed the Egyptian state's efforts in economic reform, which the Ministry of Planning is implementing to bolster economic resilience against various challenges. She affirmed the effectiveness of the economic policies undertaken by the Egyptian state and highlighted the ongoing institutional and structural reforms in sectors such as oil, transport, and tourism, pointing to the conference's discussions on the role of these reforms in supporting sustainable development.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Mohamed Sami Abdel-Sadek explained that the conference is a product of collaboration between the Faculty of Economics and Political Science and the Decision Support Center, addressing structural and institutional reforms as a pathway to sustainable development—one of the most impactful issues concerning Egypt's present and future. He mentioned the profound challenges and complex transformations facing Egypt and the region, which necessitate comprehensive structural and institutional reforms capable of fostering sustainable national development.

The President of Cairo University emphasized the structural and institutional reforms initiated by the Egyptian government across various sectors, starting with the launch of the national program for structural reforms in its first phase in 2016 and its second phase in 2021, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals and Egypt Vision 2030, while focusing on innovation and improving the business environment.

Dr. Mohamed Sami Abdel-Sadek also showcased Cairo University's experience and its role in supporting the state’s efforts in institutional reform and development through its more than 140 research and service centers, which provide scientific studies and applied research across various sectors. He highlighted the university's significant role in assisting decision-makers by offering specialized knowledge to support the formulation and implementation of structural reforms consistent with Egypt Vision 2030, noting the substantial progress the university has made in research quality and its international rankings.

He further noted the university’s efforts in sustainability, having established the first sustainability office among public universities in Egypt to enhance institutional sustainability and contribute to preparing a workforce capable of finding equitable environmental solutions. The university ranks among the top 300 in the QS World University Rankings and has received a silver rating in the STARS sustainability assessment, working towards achieving a gold rating.

Dr. Osama El-Gohary, Assistant to the Prime Minister and Head of the Decision Support Center, emphasized the importance of the annual conference 2025 in collaboration with the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, aiming to provide practical recommendations for decision-makers to support Egypt’s reform and sustainable development efforts. He pointed to the challenges confronting the global economic system, including unprecedented increases in global tariffs and a slowdown in economic growth, alongside internal challenges facing the Egyptian economy as it seeks to regain its balance.

Dr. Mahmoud Mohyidin, during his opening remarks via video conference, addressed the significant challenges facing the Egyptian economy, such as the rising burden of external debt, and outlined the priorities following the current program with the International Monetary Fund. These include growth and employment, investment accumulation, development financing, public debt management, budget deficit control, inflation targeting, and achieving a qualitative leap in exports, while addressing the three chronic crises in Egypt: expenditure challenges, revenue issues, import crises, export dilemmas, investment challenges, and savings shortages.

He stressed the necessity of achieving sustainable and inclusive growth through the development of public policies, focusing on time accumulation, economic empowerment, localizing sustainable development, and governance, while emphasizing comprehensive sustainable development goals through economic diversification, digital transformation, investment in human capital, green economy investments, and technological infrastructure policies.

Dr. Amena Helmy, Head of the Conference, noted that the conference coincides with the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Decision Support Center, now recognized as one of the best leading think tanks at the local, regional, and international levels. She also highlighted the faculty's international institutional accreditation from major British agencies, achieving the highest classification possible for an educational institution. She underscored the unprecedented compound challenges currently facing the world, from the COVID-19 crisis to the Russian-Ukrainian war and its economic repercussions. The conference aims to enhance Egypt’s efforts to achieve macroeconomic stability and maintain its sustainability while restoring internal and external balance.

Dr. Hanan Mohamed Ali, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, affirmed that the partnership between the faculty and the Decision Support Center represents a model for fruitful collaboration between academic work and practical application. She noted that the conference will include several discussion and research sessions to exchange experiences, study developments, and present proposals related to public financial reforms, trade reforms, education, health, and labor market sectors, while highlighting the structural and institutional reforms initiated by governments amid economic crises that have led to slow economic growth and challenges in achieving sustainable development goals.