Egypt's Minister of Planning Hala al-Saeed has been named best minister in the Arab world on Wednesday, being behind a plan to significantly boost the number of women in the workforce in the North African country. The announcement was made during an event in Dubai. The 63-year-old has set targets to significantly increase women's workplace participation, which has historically been low in Egypt, to 40 percent by 2030. Dr. al-Saeed comes from a political family as her father was Egypt's minister of electricity in the 1970s. She has a PhD in economics and has held senior positions at the Egyptian Banking Institute and Cairo University. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, praised the Egyptian minister for her efforts. He also named Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Trade the best government ministry in the region. Here is a list of the individual winners: Best Arab Minister: Dr. Hala al-Saeed, Egypt's Minister of Planning and Economic Development Best General Manager of an Arab department: Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Mowkley, chief executive of Saudi Arabia's National Water Company. Best Municipal Manager of an Arab City: Ahmad Al-Manfouhi, director-general of Kuwait Municipality Best Arab Governor: Major General Adel Mohamed Ibrahim Al Ghadhban, governor of Port Said, Egypt Best Arab government employee: Colonel Dr. Salah Al-Din Ibrahim Al-Tarabsha, consultant cardiac surgery, Queen Alia Heart Institute, Jordan Best Arab government female employee: two winners; Noha Ahmed Al-Sayed – Tech Center at Al Muntazah district, Egypt and Mona Muhammad Salman Mishaal, National Agricultural Research Centre, Jordan. Here is a list of the winning departments and programmes: Best Arab Ministry: Ministry of Commerce, Saudi Arabia. Best Arab project to develop the health sector: Optimal use of antibiotics, Ministry of Health, Bahrain Best Arab project to develop infrastructure: Benban Solar Park, Aswan, Egypt Best Arab project for community development: Two winners; ‘Takaful'- Jordan and the home-based businesses programme, Khatwa, Bahrain Best Arab project to develop education: Innovation Acceleration Programme – Oman Best Arab initiative: Three winners; single customs window for trade, OfOQ, Bahrain, Furijat initiative, KSA, and the Mobile Licence service, Jordan Best Arab application: Three winners; Sakani, an app to facilitate real estate finance, KSA; Tawasul App, a mobile version of the National Suggestion & Complaint system- Bahrain, and ‘Start up Your Company', Saudi Arabia Best Arab project to empower youth: Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, Bahrain Best Arab government department: Food and Drug Authority, Saudi Arabia
