First: Internal issues:

1- On behalf of the cabinet, Dr. Nazif congratulated the Egyptian President and people on the Revolution of 1952, known as July 23^rd Revolution. On this occasion President Mubarak gave a speech included the following;

a-      Expressing appreciation towards Egypt's former leaders namely Mohamed Naguib, Gamal Abdel Naser, and Anwar Al-Sadat as well as those who participated in the revolution.

b-      Determining priorities over the coming period as follows;

Priority no. 1:

Raising the employment rates through providing more job opportunities and seizing unemployment through:

·          Continue encouraging the private sector for establishing productive and services projects though a clear legal frames determining its role and responsibility, as well as opening wider investment and development fields.

·          Decreeing more incentives available for investors.

·          Expanding infrastructure that attracts investments.

·          Achieving new bunch Egyptian exports.

·          Continue working in the economic reform programme and the economic recovery packages which helped facing consequences of the global financial crisis.

Priority no. 2:

Expanding the social justice base as a main pillar for protecting the poor families through:

·          Supporting the poor families to help them facing life burdens and getting out of the poverty circle.

·          Expanding the social guarantee base.

·          Developing the insurance and pensions system.

·          Continue improving services in the deprived areas and squatters.

-          President Mubarak called all parties to suggest ideas and visions in means of dealing with the above mentioned priorities.

 

c-       At the political sides, President Mubarak assured the following;

·          Commitment to the rule of law and the non-interference in justice or judgment regulations.

·          We shall work in a society which evaluates the individual's education, skills and qualifications away from favoritism.

·          Our monitoring bodies are working to stop corruption and there is no place for corruptors.

·          We are aware of the human right ethics provided by the constitution and law regulations.

·          We do not accept any human rights violations.

·          We exert our best to spread the free opinion and business in a democratic, stable, and secure country aiming at providing the climate required for development.

 

d-      Regarding foreign relations, President Mubarak noted that;

·          Our external movement is governed by the Egyptian benefit and the Arab region issues.

·          We are working to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East without hidden agendas and away from altercations.

·          We support issues of Iraq, Gulf countries, Lebanon, Sudan, and Somalia.

·          We follow-up on dialogues with the Nile basin countries, so as to maintain Egypt's interest and achieve development in the basin countries.

·          Achieving international partnerships with all countries worldwide to serve the development goals.

·          No one supported Palestine as we did.

             The prime minister confirmed our commitment to President Mubarak's directions included in his speech to be implemented within the set priorities.

 

2-       On behalf of the cabinet, the prime minister expressed his congratulations to the Information Minister, media leaders and workers in such active sector on the occasion of launching the Egyptian television since half a decade.

Second: External issues:

3-        The foreign policy report included the following;

              a- The prime minister's meetings & interviews taken over the last period:

·          Meeting President of the Palestinian National Authority, where they tackled peace process developments and the indirect negotiations outcomes taken with Israel.

·          Receiving US Middle East Envoy, George Mitchell, and discussing US efforts in pushing the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

·          Meeting the Israeli President and tackling means for pushing the peace process, and moving to the direct negotiations with the Palestinians, as well as discussing the recent news spread about the Israeli Foreign Minister's plan concerning the total separation of Gaza from the West Bank.

·          Meeting the Somali President and discussing situation developments in Somalia and the African Horn, along with tackling means of Egypt's support to the Somali government.

·          Receiving the Turkish President, where both sides stated the following;

-          There is no competition between Egypt and Turkey but integration.

-          They reviewed the international and regional issues of mutual interest.

-          They welcomed the accelerating growth of the trade exchange volume between both countries, which achieved USD 2 billion annually to reach USD 5 billion by year 2012.

-          Both presidents agreed on announcing the establishment of the Egyptian-Turkish Strategic Cooperation Council by the near future, to be headed by both presidents.

-          Both sides agreed on signing a memorandum of understanding on facilitating visa exchange for investors and business men.

b- Egyptian participation inAU Summit held in Kampala, the prime minister headed the Egyptian delegation on behalf of President Mubarak:

·          In his given speech, the prime minister asserted Egypt's commitment toward providing technical aids and support to the African countries.

·          In the speech, President Mubarak called for settling the continent disputes aiming at achieving progress.

·          The African continent faces large challenges for achieving development, promoting the regional peace and security, settling disputes, and developing the AU structures.

·          President Mubarak confirms that the mother and children' health are one of the main requirements to achieve human development in the continent, and Egypt is committed to provide aids for reducing the children death rates.

·          The prime minister asserted Egypt's support to energy fields and activities in Africa.

·          The prime minister held talks with some Arab and African leaders and presidents (Algeria, Libya, Palestine, South Africa, and Nigeria)

a-      Gaza and Rafah Crossing:

-          The Egyptian authorities continue opening Rafah crossing, over two months, for the Palestinians from both sides, and entered human aids in accordance to President Mubarak directions.

-          Egypt hosts the Libyan ship "Al-Aml" at Al-Arish port, exempts it from fees and transports aids by trucks to Gaza sector.

Third: Economic and social performance indicators during 2009/2010

4-       The Minister of Economic Development, Dr. Othman Mohamed Othman, presented a report on the economic and social performance indicators over the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2009/2010, and the fiscal year 2009/2010 as follows;

 

a-       Achieving growth rates in GDP over 2009/2010 amounting to 5,3% compared to 4,7% over the previous fiscal year 2008/09. The fourth quarter (April-June) of the pervious fiscal year 2009/2010 achieved a growth rate amounting to 5,9%, something which showed the expected full recovery of economy upon the global financial crisis.

b-       Economic activity sectors contributed in restoring the growth rates to higher levels during the fiscal year 2009/2010 as follows;

·          Construction sector achieved growth rates of 6,8%

·          Transport and storage sectors achieved growth rates of 6,1%

·          Communication and information achieved growth rates of 12%

·          Public utilities achieved growth rates of 6,4%

c-       The export sectors recovered to overcome consequences of the global financial crisis, where the non-petroleum processing industries achieved growth rates of 5,3% during 2009/2010 and the tourism sector achieved growth of 12% during 2009/2010.

d-       Contribution of the fast-growing sectors in GDP was as follows;

-          Processing industries achieved growth by 16,1%

-          Wholesale and retails trade achieved growth by 12,2%

-          Building and construction achieved growth by 12,1%

-          Tourism achieved growth by 9%

-          Communication and information achieved growth by 9%

-          Transport and storage achieved growth by 5,5%

e-       Total investments increased by 13% to reach EGP 236 billion.

f-        Investment percent increased by 20%

g-       Unemployment percent reduced to less than 9%

h-       Inflation rates reduced, and the annual average amounts to 11,3% compared to 16,9% during 2008/09.

 

5-      Minister of Investment, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, presented a report on the international reports issued recently which included the following;

a- Recent report issued by the World Bank (July 2010) showed that the Egyptian economy ranked no. 42 out of 192 worldwide and no. 3 among Arab countries in terms of GDP achieved in 2009, which amounted to USD 188,3 billion.

b- Egypt ranked as the 70 position (out of 133 countries) in the international competitiveness report for 2009/2010. In this regard, Egypt has progressed 11 positions compared to the previous year due to the significant improvement in infrastructure and developments witnessed in the labor market efficiency. The Egyptian economy strong points represented in the local market volume.

c- In accordance to the global investment report of 2010 issued by UN Trade and Development Conference, Egypt ranked the following;

·          1^st position among North Africa countries, as it absorbed 36,7% of total FDI imported to the region, while ranked the 2^nd position (after Libya) among North Africa countries in terms of flows exported by the region.

·          2^nd position among the African countries in terms of imported FDI flows (after Angola) where 11,5% of FDI imported to Africa. Angola has witnessed large increase due to investments in the petroleum and extracting industries sectors, while Egypt has succeeded other countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria and other African countries.

·          3^rd position among the African continent in terms of FDI foreign flows (after South Africa and Libya)

·          3^rd position among Arab countries in terms of FDI in 2010 (after KSA and Qatar), Egypt has absorbed 8,5% of FDI imported to the Arab region.

b-       FDI Intelligence, affiliating the Financial Times, issued a report on the African countries classification in terms of the attracting climate for investments and Egypt ranked the 1^st position among South African countries and 2^nd position among the African countries.

 

Fourth: Decrees:

6- The cabinet agreed on approving the presidential draft law on the executive regulation of the private and non-governmental universities issued by law no. 12 of 2009:

 

On the occasion of issuing the law no.12 of 2009 concerning the private and non-governmental universities to achieve the state trend towards providing opportunities for individuals and NGOs to contribute in developing the higher education system and meeting development witnessed worldwide. This would be achieved through establishing non-governmental and private universities.

 

The draft law includes the following;

·          Means to form the council, system used, and competences of the private and non-governmental universities.

·          Procedures of the establishment of private and non-governmental universities, through determining data, studies and documents needed for establishment along with providing demand for establishment.

·          The board of trustees system, and conditions of appointing the university's leaders and staff.

·          Conditions of appointing the demonstrator and lecturers associate.

·          Education and students affairs in terms of the university's admission.

·          The financial affairs, whereas each private and non-governmental university shall have its budget determining its income and expenses.

·          The relation between the Higher Education Ministry and the private and non-governmental universities, through the role to be played by the Ministry's consultants.

·          Conditions and procedures of moving from private to non-governmental university, and documents to be provided with the demand, and this shall be taken by a president's decree upon approval of the private and non-governmental universities council.