President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi emphasized the importance of the support of the Arab brethren to the Egyptian State.
“Without the support of our brethren in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Egypt would not have stood up again,” said President Sisi in his speech during a roundtable held on the sidelines of the World Government Summit (WGS), which is currently in session in the UAE.
He, meanwhile, voiced deep gratitude and respect for those who supported not only Egypt but any other Arab country.
The Egyptian State faced daunting and decisive challenges and was on the brink of collapse in 2011, President Sisi said.
President Sisi, meanwhile, extended thanks and appreciation to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan for the warm reception and hospitality.
He also wished continued peace and stability to the UAE.
President Sisi also said that he met yesterday with the UAE President and asked him to dispatch aid to Syria.
The UAE president, in turn, said that the UAE sends eight daily planes to quake-hit Syria, President Sisi went on to say.
Talking about the challenges besetting Egypt from 2011 until 2013, President Sisi said that Egypt’s strategic cash reserve was one of the major challenges.
During this period, the cash reserve was declining due to the cost of meeting the country’s needs of oil derivatives, President Sisi said, referring to the unwavering support of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during this difficult phase.
President Sisi renewed thanks to the UAE, saying: “Do not allow social media websites to drive a wedge between Egypt and its allies”.
Egypt faced daunting challenges after 2011, atop of which is the state of fragmentation, disintegration and loss of hope which prevailed among Egyptians, said President Sisi.
He further affirmed that a country that falls would find it excruciatingly difficult to rise again.
Several challenges faced the Egyptian State back then, said President Sisi, noting that the energy crisis was a major problem.
The government has since allocated nearly EGP 1.7 trillion to support the electricity and gas sectors, said President Sisi.
Regarding the government’s approach to spend heavily on infrastructure and national projects, President Sisi said that Egypt was gripped with a serious electricity problem seven years ago.
Accordingly, directives were issued to resolve this problem within only one year, he went on to say.
President Sisi, meanwhile, underlined the importance of keeping constantly in touch with the people to make them aware of all the challenges facing the country.
The Egyptian experiment is of special nature, as the people in Egypt could not bear the continuation of the electricity crisis for another year, added President Sisi.
The cost of the chaos that Egypt experienced following the unrest in 2011 amounted to about dlrs 450 billion, he said.
President Sisi also drew attention to the transport sector and efforts to overhaul it at the cost of EGP 2 trillion.
The sector is now capable of serving 105 million citizens, as well as the investors to do their business in Egypt, he further said.
Talking about the quality of education, President Sisi said that this is another challenge, as Egypt has about 25 million students in the basic education stage.
Also, the total enrolment of university students in Egypt stands at four million, President Sisi said, noting that 700,000 students graduate on an annual basis.
Shedding light on another challenge besetting Egypt, President Sisi said that Egypt’s population increased from about 81 million in 2011 to stand now at 105 million.
Egypt’s population increased from 80-81 million in 2011 to stand now at 105 million, President Sisi added.
The capabilities of the Egyptian State need dlrs 1 trillion annually, President Sisi said, adding that this amount is not available.
“So the solution – in my point of view – lies in innovative ideas and initiatives,” he went on to say.
President Sisi, meanwhile, said that the majority of the population lives on a narrow strip parallel to the Nile, extending from Alexandria to Aswan.
“This situation is no longer suitable,” President Sisi said.
“If we want to apply the success stories of South Korea and Singapore… we are able to do so only through work, patience and sacrifice,” President Sisi went on to say.
He further said that Egypt aspires to implement an electricity linkage project with Saudi Arabia, Greece, Italy, Sudan and Libya.
President Sisi affirmed that Egypt is now qualified to implement this project unlike before.
President Sisi affirmed that the State welcomed cooperation with the private sector in building hospitals and schools.
The private sector is distinguished by sound management, President Sisi said, pointing out to the protocol forged between the public and the private sectors.
From 2011 and until 2013, Egypt had descended into total chaos, President Sisi said, adding that another challenge emerged during this period, which was confronting terrorism.
The challenges which faced Egypt were numerous and had to be confronted simultaneously, President Sisi said.
President Sisi further said that electricity, water and transport projects contributed to providing jobs to 5 million Egyptians, who returned from the countries which witnessed unrest during this period.
Directing his speech to the UAE nation and the attendees in the roundtable, President Sisi said that there were two bright spots which happened during this period, the first was the support of the Arab brethren.
President Sisi added that following the statement of July 3, 2013, the UAE president paid a visit to Egypt, adding that during this time the fuel crisis was gripping the country.
Immediately, the UAE president issued directives to supply fuel to Egypt to help it overcome this crisis, President Sisi went on to say.
The UAE president coordinated with the Arab allies the support offered to Egypt during this period, he added.
During the roundtable held on the sidelines of the World Government Summit (WGS), President Sisi said that he had placed great trust in the Egyptians, who withstood several challenges.
The inflation rate is high in Egypt and all the world, he added, pointing out to the perseverance of the Egyptian nation.
There is a state of confidence between the Egyptian people and the leadership and the government, he said, adding that some parties have been trying since eight months or a year to shake the confidence between the government and the people.
Responding to the criticism leveled against the government for its approach to spend heavily on the national projects in light of the current economic crisis, President Sisi affirmed that the State gives top priority to the education and health sectors.
He further reiterated the government’s utmost keenness on generating jobs.
The national projects which are related to education will reap fruit 14 years from now, he added.
Regarding the pioneering and successful initiatives which Egypt attained during the 2022 global climate conference, COP27, President Sisi affirmed that Egypt attaches great importance to environment and climate issues.
He also referred to the dredging activities carried out in the 1.4 million square meters of Lake Manzala.
Egypt is working tirelessly to resolve all environmental-related problems, he made it clear.
Regarding the road projects, President Sisi said that such projects primarily aim to save dlrs 8 billion, which is the value of the fuel used in traffic.
Egypt gives great attention to environmental conservation, affirmed President Sisi.
Egypt has officially started to give a special attention to the environmental sphere ever since Paris Conference and Glasgow Conference, President Sisi said.
President Sisi, meanwhile, said that Egypt’s main goal when it was chosen to host the COP27 was to oblige the industrial countries to join the ‘loss and damage’ fund to help developing countries to face the impacts of climate change.
Talking about the COP28, which will be hosted by the UAE, during this year, President Sisi said that there is constant coordination with the UAE in this respect.
President Sisi concluded his speech by urging all people to safeguard the wealth granted by God to their countries.
President Sisi also urged people to take lessons from the countries which plunged into conflict.
The WGS is considered a great opportunity to learn from the experiences of the various countries, he added.
