A new spirit of collective action is in the air as the NDP approaches its national conference, writes Ibrahim Nafie The National Democratic Party (NDP) conference, which will convene from 21--23 September, has adopted as its slogan: "New Thinking and the Priorities of Reform". As the slogan suggests this year's conference will follow-through on the themes that dominated last September's event. If participants last year focussed on defining their party's objectives and the measures needed to institute extensive reform, this year they hope to move towards putting those policies into effect. The NDP is entering a new phase, one that began with the creation of the new cabinet. The president set the guidelines for this phase in his speech following the inauguration of the cabinet, initiating new mechanisms to ensure broader participation of civil society and of those with relevant expertise in the discussions and decision- making processes concerning items on the government's agenda. In this phase visions and plans will be translated into tangible progress on the ground across all domains. It is clear that the new government is determined to adopt a more hands-on approach towards those issues of most concern to the public. However, both the government and the public must bear in mind that precision is essential in pinpointing priorities and in assessing the necessary timeframe to realise objectives. In Egypt, as in any society, available resources pale in comparison to needs. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance that we channel our resources wisely so that people can feel immediate results in their daily lives. In other words, the manner in which we prioritise must be gauged in such a way that we optimise the potential for advance across the board. The experiences of those nations that have lifted themselves from the status of developing to emerging nations testify to the advantages of focussing on certain growth sectors in accordance with a clear set of priorities. However, it is important to stress here that implementation of reforms in Egypt will proceed through a series of interconnected and interdependent policy initiatives, beginning with those that will have the greatest impact on the public. Expanding spheres of participation will bring on board the increasingly numerous and diverse contributions of experts and specialists from the private sector and civil society, and in doing so will provide for the broadest possible grassroots input. After all, no plan of national action can be the preserve a specific segment of society or branch of government. Rather, it must be viewed as a collective endeavour, a responsibility that must be shouldered by all. The aim is clearly to generate a climate conducive to substantive expansion, in the sense that progress in one sector will inevitably have a positive impact on other sectors, creating an overlapping effect. But equally, if not more important, than such structural aspects will be the fostering of a constructive spirit characterised by the ability to appreciate the value of accomplishments and the ability to sustain commitment towards our goals. Such a spirit will be instrumental in generating the necessary cohesive and robust climate of patriotic dedication and in fostering the highest possible degree of harmony between the various spheres of activity. The aim, in the end, will be to put into effect an incontrovertibly Egyptian project for national revival. It will be useful here to illustrate how progress in one sphere overlaps with others. Take the economic sphere as an example. By expanding the income tax base so as to spread it over a broader swathe of the populace while readjusting its structure so as to ease the burden on lower-income brackets the average citizen will feel an immediate improvement in his or her quality of life. This may reflect itself in, among other things, higher savings rates and increased state revenues which, in turn, can be reinvested in other areas of development. Simultaneously, progress in laying of the foundations of a market economy will stimulate higher rates of investment and set in motion a process that will enable the economy to recover from recession and stagnation. Higher savings rates and a greater influx of investment, together, will encourage large enterprises which will, on the one hand, reduce the rates of unemployment, and, on the other, generate mechanisms for curbing corruption. Similiarly, substantial economic development, the benefits of which can be felt by all, will have a profound impact on the political sphere, which will meld with specific NDP policy initiatives in this domain. In the forthcoming phase the government will introduce and promote numerous political reforms. The Political Party Law will be amended and the composition and powers of the central electoral commission modified. To crown this process of political liberalisation the government intends to introduce major amendments to the range of laws that govern political life in Egypt. Foremost among these are the Political Party Law 40 of 1977, the People's Assembly Law 37 of 1972, Law 73 of 1956 governing the exercise of political rights and Law 10 of 1993 on the democratisation of professional syndicates. These amendments will work to augment levels of popular participation in the public sphere. The viability and dynamism of the various political parties will become directly contingent on their ability to reach out to new segments of popular opinion. That this will set into motion various dynamics pertaining to individual and political rights is certain to produce profound and tangible changes both in the condition of human rights and in the performance of civil society in Egypt. In the coming phase, too, efforts will home in on the many formidable problems facing young Egyptians. We should anticipate a raft of new policies aimed at opening up avenues of professional and personal advancement and at providing the young with a platform to voice their concerns and aspirations. The same applies to women's issues. No reform structure would be complete without a component geared towards advancing the rights and empowerment of women, directly addressing women's fundamental and immediate psychological and financial concerns. There is no doubt in my mind that the underlying vision behind the government's agenda has taken into account the social dimension of reform. In particular it has focussed with great care on the needs of those members of society living on limited incomes. President Mubarak, as was apparent in his speech upon the inauguration of the new cabinet, has made it clear that their interests cannot be compromised, something he has repeatedly underlined in subsequent speeches and interviews. In this regard it will remain of great importance to act against the formation of economic monopolies and to be equally strenuous in our efforts to prevent any attempts to exploit positions of power to advance personal interests. Firm steps must be taken to check inflation and to curb unjustified price increases in goods and services. Attention to the needs of the poor and those on lower incomes must include developing a comprehensive health insurance umbrella over the next five years, a period during which subsidies on essentials, aimed at those on lower incomes, must be maintained. In this context, it cannot be stressed enough how vital it is that plans for reform are founded upon an accurate and objective diagnosis of our current situation while keeping our sights trained on the direction we must take to best fulfil our aspirations. Reform can no longer be confined to the slogans and banners beneath which politicians parade in their rivalry to outbid one another and get ahead. Rather, reform must be elevated to an article of faith, founded upon the conviction that our conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that we now require nothing less than a comprehensive programme for national revival. We must further resolve that the operative criteria governing this programme must be that benefits immediately accrue to the widest possible public. Officials responsible for executing reforms must be held accountable and judged on the basis of the extent to which they proceed in accordance with the timeframes for accomplishing the items on the agenda of each ministerial or sector plan. There can be no overstating the urgency of embracing such changes, especially in light of the forthcoming NDP conference's determination to forge ahead in translating policy initiatives into concrete action. The plans that are on the new government's agenda confirm that a new phase of national action is in motion and that this phase is inspired by a clear philosophy for dealing with the concerns of the nation and society. The forthcoming NDP conference is certain to embody both this spirit of inspiration and the resolve to put the shoulder to the grindstone. The NDP has the necessary studies, prepared for last year's conference. A new cabinet has been charged with setting reforms into motion and the president has established clear and specific guidelines for this process and is determined to keep a vigilant eye on its progress. With all this in place it remains for the government and the relevant executive officials to transform these plans into a viable working programme and to achieve specified targets as faithfully as possible. We should further add that in this coming phase we cannot afford to become sidetracked by overly ambitious schemes that appear to offer glimmering promises on the horizon. This is the phase for tangible achievements, and these will be necessary to restore the public's trust and confidence in the ability of various government agencies to produce solid improvements in every aspect of their lives. It is time for the government to prove that it is capable of implementing plans and programmes that not only improve standards of living but also lift Egypt to the ranks of emerging nations.
