On Monday, 24 September, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi attended a dinner organized by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU), a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization that promotes dialogue between government officials and global business leaders.

According to a statement released by the Office of the Presidency, President El Sisi “confirmed that Egypt believes in the role of the private sector in achieving development” and “stressed that it seeks to continue the implementation of economic reforms that shall facilitate the work of the private sector and enhance its role in all sectors, including the participation in the implementation of mega development projects.” President El Sisi also “reiterated Egypt’s commitment to strengthening the Egyptian-American economic partnership.”

For more information, see the below release from the Office of the Presidency.

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Embassy of Egypt

President El Sisi Attends BCIU Business Dinner 

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi attended on Monday evening a business dinner organized by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU). The BCIU is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan, membership organization that promotes dialogue between political leaders and business communities in various countries in the world. Its members include business leaders and CEO’s of major American companies.

The President and CEO of BCIU, Mr. Peter Tichansky, welcomed President El Sisi in New York and lauded Egypt’s successful experience in its economic reform process. He underscored the Council’s resolve to further strengthen economic cooperation between Egypt and the U.S. across various fields.

President El Sisi reviewed developments in Egypt and the region over the past years and the unprecedented challenges it faced. These challenges necessitated efforts to stabilize the pillars of the state, preserve its stability, and implement an integrated economic and social reform program to increase the national economy’s competitiveness and encourage foreign investment.

The President confirmed that Egypt believes in the role of the private sector in achieving development. He stressed that it seeks to continue the implementation of economic reforms that shall facilitate the work of the private sector and enhance its role in all sectors, including the participation in the implementation of mega development projects. Those include the Suez Canal Corridor Development Project and the construction of a number of new cities, such as the new administrative capital and the new Al Alamein city. The President noted that this shall accelerate the implementation of various projects and contribute to the implementation of the national strategy for sustainable development “Egypt Vision 2030”.

The President and members of the Business Council for International Understanding engaged in an open discussion, during which BCIU members expressed their appreciation for Egypt’s vast and effective economic reforms. They asserted that they look forward to further increasing trade relations between Egypt and the U.S. by boosting the size and scope of their investments in the coming period.

President El Sisi reviewed national projects currently being implemented in Egypt. The President also emphasized that in the current period there is a focus on enhancing investment in the education and health of the Egyptian citizen, by launching a package of mega projects and programs at the national level that shall promote the quality of life for the citizens in these areas. The ministers of investment and international cooperation; health and population; and trade and industry offered an overview of reforms underway in a range of fields. In the health sector, the minister focused primarily on the comprehensive health insurance project and the President’s initiative for the elimination of Hepatitis C and for the early detection of non-communicable diseases. The ministers also reviewed reforms in the transport and railway sector, trade, education and other fields of economic cooperation.

President El Sisi lauded the role of the BCIU in promoting dialogue between the government of Egypt and major American corporations to step up international trade and achieve economic growth. He reiterated Egypt’s commitment to strengthening the Egyptian-American economic partnership.

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