Pandemic ‘negatively affected’ Egypt’s Vision 2030, official warns

Abd-elrahman Nasef, 31, checks the plants in his aquaponic farm, which recycles water in fish tanks to grow vegetables, in Cairo, Egypt June 30, 2021. (REUTERS)
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Updated 05 July 2021
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Pandemic ‘negatively affected’ Egypt’s Vision 2030, official warns

  • Kamali said that Egypt’s modernization process is being achieved through an approach that includes consultations with all stakeholders, including the government, civil society, the private sector, academics and others

CAIRO: Egypt’s Vision 2030 has been negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, the country’s deputy minister of planning and economic development has warned.

Ahmed Kamali said that the emergence of the pandemic imposed negative social and economic repercussions, and new challenges on the Egyptian economy, including the need to transition to green development.

He added that the objective of modernization plans is to align Egypt’s Vision 2030 with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063, in addition to keeping pace with global and regional changes.

Among the important issues that have been added to the updated version of the vision are that of water scarcity and population growth, he said.

Kamali said that Egypt’s modernization process is being achieved through an approach that includes consultations with all stakeholders, including the government, civil society, the private sector, academics and others.

The deputy minister said that the first step in this regard focuses on identifying gaps in the economic, social and environmental aspects through research papers that have been drawn up in each ministry and government agency.

The second step includes groups of task forces and specialized experts working on partial reports for each identified gap, while the third step includes the compilation of these reports and research papers.

Kamali added that the fourth step includes a series of consultative sessions with representatives of the government, private sector, civil society and academics to discuss the required targets.

The deputy minister also discussed the strategic goals of improving the quality of life for citizens, achieving social justice and equality, access to an integrated and sustainable environmental system, and access to competitive and diversified knowledge.

He said that the tools used to accelerate the achievement of the previous strategic objectives include controlling population growth, relying on supportive cultural values, improving the availability of information and environmental legislation, achieving digital transformation and promoting technology and innovation.

 


Free trade negotiations between GCC, India mark new phase of partnership, says sec-gen

Updated 24 February 2026
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Free trade negotiations between GCC, India mark new phase of partnership, says sec-gen

RIYADH: The Gulf Cooperation Council’s secretary-general affirmed that the negotiations for a free trade agreement between the GCC and India, and the signing of the joint statement, represents a new phase of strategic partnership.

Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi said that this contributes to enhancing close cooperation and strengthening economic and trade ties, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

This came during the signing ceremony of the joint statement on launching the free trade agreement negotiations between the Al-Budaiwi and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, which took place in New Delhi, on Tuesday.

During the signing ceremony, Al-Budaiwi said that the Terms of Reference, signed on Feb. 5, provide a comprehensive and clear framework for these negotiations. The two nations agreed to discuss enhancing cooperation in vital strategic areas, including trade in goods, customs procedures, and services.

Additionally, the framework covers Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures, intellectual property rights, cooperation on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, along with other topics of mutual interest. This reflects the comprehensive nature of the agreement and its ability to keep pace with the future economy.

Al-Budaiwi expressed hope that these negotiations would lead to a comprehensive and ambitious free trade agreement that works to remove customs and non-customs barriers, enhance the flow of quality investments in both directions, and achieve further liberalization in trade and investment cooperation between the GCC and India for mutual benefit. 

This would provide a stimulating economic environment and an investment climate that opens broad horizons for the business sector, supports supply chains, and accelerates the pace of economic growth in line with the ambitious developmental visions of the GCC states. 

The top official affirmed the full readiness of the General Secretariat to host the first round of negotiations at its headquarters in Riyadh during the second half of this year.

The two sides held a meeting during which they reviewed the existing cooperation relations between the GCC and India and discussed ways to develop and elevate them to broader horizons, serving mutual interests and enhancing opportunities for strategic partnership between the two sides, particularly in the economic, investment, and trade fields.

They praised the role undertaken by the negotiating teams from both sides, appreciating the efforts contributing to reaching a comprehensive agreement that enhances economic integration and supports the smooth flow of trade between the two nations.