CAIRO, April 10, 2018 - There is continuous fruitful co-operation between Egypt and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), Minister of Planning, Follow-up and Administrative Reform Dr Hala el-Saeed said on Tuesday. In statements to the Middle East News Agency, on the sidelines of the Joint Annual Meetings of the Arab Financial Institutions, which began at the Dead Sea, Jordan, the Minister praised the role of the AFESD in supporting development operations in the Arab countries. She also highlighted the fund's co-operation with Egypt as it is considered an important partner of Egypt in its development process, noting that the fund's contribution to development in Egypt amounted to $5 billion. The Minister said that the fund played an effective role in achieving social and economic development in all Arab countries. She said in this connection that the AFESD helps Arab nations achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 47th meeting of the board of directors of the AFESD was held under the chairmanship of the Yemeni Minister of Planning and International Co-operation, Dr Mohamed el-Saeed. During the meeting, Minister el-Saeed stressed the need to coordinate efforts with various Arab development institutions in the field of institutional support with the aim of achieving the 2030 Agenda of SDGs. "There can be no sustainable social and economic development without carrying out institutional and administrative reform," Minister el-Saeed said. She also put more stress on the importance of e-government and providing support in this field in the framework of the efforts exerted by the Arab states . Minister el-Saeed also met the Director and Board Chairman of the AFESD, Abdel Latif Ahmed. During the meeting, the minister reviewed Egypt's efforts to achieve economic reform and implement its plans for reforming the state's administrative body. The two sides also probed spheres of co-operation and means of providing funding for the programmes which are currently carried out by Egypt through the Ministry of Planning as part of Egypt's strategic development vision of 2030. The AFESD Chairman praised the economic reform programme adopted by the Egyptian government, affirming that the fund would continue to support this programme. He also hailed a pack of social protection measures the state had taken after the application of the programme. The meeting also addressed the e-systems of human resources, organising training courses to hone the skills of cadres at the administrative body as well as means of upgrading local services. The Minister also said the fund's activities included various important aspects which give a model of Arab economic co-operation and joint Arab action. The Egyptian delegation to the meetings, groups Minister of Investment and International Co-operation Sahar Nasr, Minister of Planning el Saeed, Minister of Agriculture Abdel Moniem el Bana and Central Bank of Egypt Governor Tarek Amer.
