Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat met with the President of the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) Khairat Barakat on Monday to discuss the agency's work and its role in the country's development. Al-Mashat emphasised the crucial role of CAPMAS in raising statistical awareness among Egyptians. She highlighted the importance of accurate and accessible data for informed decision-making across all sectors of the economy. "Statistics and data are fundamental to effective policymaking and planning," Al-Mashat said. "They provide the foundation for understanding our realities and optimising resource allocation." The minister praised CAPMAS for its comprehensive data collection, covering economic, social, demographic, and environmental aspects of Egyptian life. She stressed the need to make this information readily available to policymakers, researchers, and the public while adhering to international standards. The meeting also focused on modernising CAPMAS's operations. Al-Mashat and Barakat discussed upgrading the agency's information and digital infrastructure and ensuring its staff has the skills to manage databases effectively in the age of digital transformation and artificial intelligence. To improve data accuracy and relevance, the officials explored ways to enhance the statistical system, identify data gaps, and integrate multiple sectors into the national statistical framework. They also discussed developing a capacity-building plan for CAPMAS staff. The meeting underscored the government's commitment to using data-driven policies to inform planning, budgeting, and performance evaluation.
