Head of the Egyptian Press Syndicate Diaa Rashwan said Monday that upgrading national press institutions relies on a full appreciation of the vital role of these bodies as one of the main pillars of Egypt's soft power. Rashwan made his remarks as he commented on a meeting held yesterday between Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait, and Minister of State for Information Osama Heikal, during which the premier underlined the state's keenness to provide all possible support for national press institutions as long as they achieve their goals. Head of the National Press Authority (NPA) Karam Gabr and a host of senior officials from national press institutions were in attendance. Rashwan said that resolutions taken during the meeting to improve and upgrade these institutions will be the subject of extensive debate. He called upon the NPA to take urgent steps in cooperation with relevant board chairmen and editors-in-chief to provide detailed lists including national press institutions' needs of journalists. He also asserted the need to prepare lists of fellow journalists who have not yet been permanently appointed and pensioners working under temporary contracts to take the actions necessary within the powers assigned to the NPA in this regard. Madbouli stressed the importance of rationaliding the spending at national press institutions, saying that President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi follows up a plan to develop such institutions in order to help them overcome different challenges. Gabr said the development plan focuses on the digitisation of the news service at press institutions, as well as implementing financial and administrative reforms to ensure the best use of their assets. He added that the plan was carried out in cooperation with the ministries of planning, public enterprise, finance, investment and social solidarity. At the end of their meeting, the attendees agreed not to hire more employee, whether on permanent or temporary bases, or extend the service of the retired journalists, except for senior writers.
