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.