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I am about to be the head of the team for the modernization of Egypt's
2030 Vision, and I am proud that most of the team are my colleagues and
children at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science. Of course, no
one denies the effectiveness of the economic reform program that started
in 2016, and its positive results have reflected in the world's recognition
of its protection of Egypt, especially during the Corona pandemic.
Programs have been created for families living in poverty, such as the
Solidarity, Dignity and A Decent Life program, which has been praised
by international institutions such as the World Bank. Yes, I acknowledge
that there is economic reform and significant improvement, but there are
many challenges as well. I would like to add that, beginning in 2016,
work has been done to upgrade Egypt's infrastructure (roads, majors,
ports, airports and railways) in its entirety as well as to provide electricity
and communications. Egypt has also succeeded in entering the era of
digital transformation easily, which proved helpful—especially in the
closing period at the start of the pandemic—in achieving efficiency and
wide acceptence of the digital transformation of the educational process.
As for the challenges, one of the most important economic challenges in
my view is the high budget deficitt. If the state is working to solve this,
thus effectively ignoring a real problem: illegal immigration. How we need to expand the private sector to attract local and foreign investors.
many lives are lost due to lack of awareness the issue? At the We must also impose stimulus policies to help the private sector.
same time, Corona came and coincided with the return of
competencies to Egypt without work references or vacancies. The In your opinion, to what extent is external debt a challenge, and how
Ministry of Foreign Affairs had hoped to create a center, but the can we address this problem?
high boards of Cairo University and the faculty saw it more fit to In my opinion, Egypt would not have been able to make most of
create a small unit that would function effectively and later the changes it has made without resorting to external financing
develop into a center. Over the past two years, we have sought to debt. The culture of hoarding weakened the levels of saving, so
implement this unit at the Faculty of Economics and Political the state resorted to borrowing to carry out its development plan.
Science, with the support of all the state's sovereign entities. IOM Other means that generate foreign income funds, including
has also welcomed this cooperation with a public university as it is remittances from workers abroad, tourism, foreign direct
a new experience. They had established similar units in several investment or the Suez Canal, have been fluctuating.. In addition,
places but have had no resonance. Overall, wanted a unit that is in the advantage of international institutions is that interest is very
line with the state's strategy and orientations and follows the low and long-term, so why not benefit as a country from this
Egyptian constitution. advantage, especially since all its indicators boost the economy's
We have also launched the research competition, which confidence? Borrowing from abroad has advantages but also
encourages research and ideas on promoting positive ideas for disadvantages as there exists a risk of being cut off as was the
migration. People always ignore the positive side of migration, case with Japan and the Grand Egyptian Museum. The resultant
although it has several benefits, including workers' remittances, need to resort to international institutions to finance these major
which rose from $27.8 billion in 2019/20 to $31.4 billion in projects, however, will later generate a variety of economic
2020/21. We can benefit from guiding young people who want to activities supported by theindustry, agriculture, tourism and others
travel by directing them to do training courses in cooperation with Therefore, it is vital to view the full picture before seeking loans.
the relevant authorities - the Ministry of State for Immigration Finally, to whom is Dr. Adela Ragab grateful?
Affairs. We can help them invest in their talent regardless of their All the faculty professors from whom I learned academically and worked
educational qualification. German Aid has also cooperated with with them administratively without exception, from Dr. Hiba Nassar as
the Ministry of Immigration in the presidential initiative the faculty's Vice Dean for Community Affairs and Environmental
"Lifeboats". However, they did not have sufficient qualifications Development to Dr. Doda Badran and Dr. Zainab Salim who were both
to provide services, so the immigration unit of the college offered Vice Deans for Education and Students' Affairs. I learned from them
to provide places, halls and even trainers, especially since most many things, including how to deal smoothly with others, accuracy, care
immigrants are not from Cairo Governorate. The highest rates of and mastery. I am grateful to all my teachers for all that they have given
migration were observed in the governorates of Fayoum, me. I am also thankful for all my colleagues, whose support I could not
have survived any setbacks without. I can never forget the time when I
Daqahliya, Beheira, Kafr al-Sheikh and Beni Suef. Our goal is to was an assistant and was asked to teach in Beni Suef. The place was very
train trainers to move awareness programmes to these provinces. far away and my husband refused, but all my colleagues applied to teach
We are in the hospitality of a top-notch Economics professor - in Beni Suef for a week in my place. I am grateful to all of them. I am
what is your assessment of the current situation of the very grateful to the students, and finally to my husband, children and
Egyptian economy in terms of the challenges and the family who have endured my studies and my work. They have always
helped me and supported me to achieve my ambitions.
opportunities it faces?

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