https://arab.news/vf9tw
- Country ‘must continue on the path of economic reform,’ economist says
- New leadership ‘could lead to tangible changes on the ground,’ researcher says
CAIRO: The new Egyptian government, which is expected to announce its Cabinet members soon, faces numerous challenges, experts and analysts say.
The recent announcement about changes to the government has sparked optimism and anticipation among Egyptians. People are hopeful of seeing improvements, including better living conditions and enhanced economic prospects.
Experts agree that economic reform is the most difficult challenge facing the government.
These challenges could help reshape and redefine current policies, which are crucial in setting the government’s direction.
This alignment must consider the domestic developments, global economic crises and the deep geopolitical tensions and conflicts surrounding the country externally.
Economist Mohamed Sayed Gamal said: “The state must continue on the path of economic reform, focusing on attracting and increasing local and foreign investments, encouraging private sector growth and making every effort to curb rising prices, inflation and regulate markets.”
The new government must aim to reduce inflation to its lowest levels by the end of 2026, he said.
“A primary goal is to reduce the overall budget deficit and public debt while achieving a surplus by maintaining balanced financial stability amid the current crisis. This includes supporting productive sectors and those most affected by economic crises, improving infrastructure quality, and maintaining fair pricing policies for goods and services.”
Gamal Abdel Hamid, a researcher at the Al-Ahram Center for Studies, said: “Injecting new blood into the Egyptian government could lead to tangible changes on the ground, positively impacting citizens and increasing public support.”
The most critical challenge was national security, he said.
“The Egyptian state is committed to maintaining its national security amid regional and international challenges, focusing on combating terrorism and ensuring stability.
“The new government should continue to engage with the issues previously tackled by the former government, including the recent Gaza conflict, where Egypt played a crucial role as a trusted mediator through its diplomatic mechanisms and relevant state institutions.”
Another significant challenge was human development, Abdel Hamid said.
It tops the new government’s priority list as per President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi’s directives, especially in the health and education sectors.
Abdel Hamid said the new government “must continue to exert more effort to implement developmental projects to improve health, educational and social infrastructure and enhance service delivery mechanisms to meet the population’s growing needs.”
Samira Al-Adl, a researcher at the Family Development Center, said: “One of the important challenges for the upcoming government is building a fair, cohesive society characterized by equality in economic, social and political rights and opportunities, with the highest degree of social integration.
“This can be achieved by enacting laws that establish and expand social protection, empowering the most marginalized groups.”
She referred to plans for a new personal status law ensuring justice for women, and suggested other legislation that combat discrimination and violence against women, such as the early marriage law, in addition to amendments to labor laws.
Sheikh Fath Al-Qadi, an imam at the Ministry of Religious Endowments, said: “I believe that renewing religious discourse is a priority for the next government.
“This can be achieved by increasing interest in initiatives related to creativity and culture and renewing the discourse to combat extremist ideologies and destructive thoughts while harnessing the broad youth base that makes up the majority of the population by training and qualifying them and enhancing the concept of patriotism among them.”