The government will draft new laws to offer shares in public companies that are privatized, Minister of Investment Mahmoud Mohi Eddin said on Sunday in a forum at the national conference of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP). The minister said the government will form a specialized body to improve public companies that will be privatized and ensure workers' rights after the companies are sold. Eddin also said that a percentage of the companies' working capital would be used to form a fund dedicated to improving health and education. Another part of the fund would be invested, he said. For his part, Gamal Mubarak, head of the NDP's powerful Policies Secretariat, said that the agricultural sector faces numerous challenges that threaten national security. The NDP, Mubarak said, will protect farmers. During the same session Agriculture Minister Amin Abaza said the government has devised a strategy to develop the agricultural sector and help farmers over the next three years. "Corn growers will get financial aid for the first time, and local wheat prices will be higher than the imported produce," Abaza said. Salwa Bayoumi, head of the NDP's agricultural committee, called for more incentives to encourage farmers to grow more strategic crops. Other participants in the session called for solving irrigation shortages and developing Egypt's fish and poultry wealth.
Ahmed Ezz, the NDP's organization secretary, said the Ministers of Housing, Finance and Local Development will play a major part in improving public services. "So that people will vote for us," he said jokingly. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
