In accordance with Egypt's role as one of the five founding states of the "New Partnership for Africa's Development - NEPAD", the following contains an overview of Egypt's contributions and activities throughout the last year, till June 2006, in various aspects of the initiative, as well as the steps taken to adapt the Egyptian policies correlated with the NEPAD programs and targets:

First: Develop and strengthen good governance institutions for creating an environment conducive to attracting Foreign Direct Investments for development:

The Egyptian Government approved a number of decisions and procedures to support good governance institutions and to create an atmosphere conducive to attracting foreign investments, such as:

1- Amending “Article 76” of the constitution, thus paving the way to the first presidential elections “in October 2005” to choose from among more than one candidate through free direct nominations, under the supervision of the Egyptian judicial authority. This was followed by legislative elections which took place within a framework of transparency and integrity, and contributed to widening the range of political participation including the participation of women.

2- Expanding the role of the "National Council for Human Rights”, which issues an annual report on human rights practices. The council’s reports are seriously examined by the Government and the Parliament. The role of the “Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights” in the People's Assembly also developed.

3- In the field of improving the investment atmosphere in Egypt, the new government, which came into office in January 2006, implemented a strategy based on simplifying and facilitating investment procedures, and eliminating bureaucracy. The Government also made a number of reforms in the work policies, and the institutional structure to create a healthy investment atmosphere in Egypt.

4- In this context, a new ministry of investment, with a complete structure, was also established. This ministry approved a number of incentives to be given to the companies buying shares in the public sector companies; in addition, it rearranged the administrative structure and sought new financial resources.

5- As a result of the trade agreements between Egypt and its international partners, Egypt is now capable of accessing many regional and international markets, supported by its unique location which links Africa to other continents.

Second: Join the African Peer Review Mechanism:

Egypt joined the Africa Peer Review Mechanism “APRM”in March 2004 because Egypt believes in the  vital role played by the APRM and its contribution in developing African Governments' capacity in promoting good governance and strengthening the democratization process within a framework of transparency, national responsibility, and exchange of expertise and knowledge among African states.

Third: Continue to coordinate, on the basis of national strategies and priorities all types of external assistance, in order to integrate effectively such assistance into  their development process:

-The Egyptian Government is committed to good governance of developmental assistance, and to direct them towards development programs, in accordance with the NEPAD principles. This policy helped in strengthening economic performance, and increasing gross national product and the per capita income. Such positive economic indicators were positively reflected on the social sector and services rendered to Egyptian citizens, particularly in the fields of health, education, and social care.

-The President's electoral program, currently implemented by the government, insists on the necessity to integrate foreign development assistance to financing development projects and programs in various fields, particularly in the fields of irrigation, health care, education, and infrastructure, which will positively affect the living standard of Egyptian citizens.

Fourth: Further Integrate the priorities and objectives of NEPAD into the regional programs and policies:

-In the framework of implementing the NEPAD programs and policies in the various fields, Egypt announced, during the NEPAD Implementation Committee Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2005, that it will place all Egyptian training institutes, technical centers, in addition to the scientific and technological research institutions, under the disposal of the African states. Egypt also organizes several training courses for Africans, either on a bilateral level, or in cooperation with the regional economic communities. This can be accomplished either based on Egyptian funding via the Egyptian Fund for Technical Cooperation with Africa or based on joint funds with other regional and international parties.

-Moreover, Egypt hosted a number of regional and African conferences and meetings related to achieving the NEPAD goals in different fields, and participated actively in their deliberations. Among these conferences were the Ministers of Transportation Conference for the COMESA member states, in Sharm El Sheikh in September 2005, the African Ministers of Trade Conference in April 2006, the African Plenary on National Strategies for Poverty Reduction and Implementation of the MDGs Conference in March 2006, the African Ministers of Industry Conference in Cairo in June 2006, and the UN International and Regional Experts Meeting on illegal Utilization  of natural resources in Africa, in June 2006, as well as several other conferences.

-The Agricultural sector acquires great attention in Egypt, and Egypt is committed to the Maputo declaration in 2003 related to agriculture and food security, by allocating 10% of its annual budget to this sector. In light of the fact that Egypt is responsible for the agriculture file in the NEPAD, it is keen on mobilizing efforts to activate the CAADP and actively participating in the different NEPAD activities related to this field, such as the meetings of the Fertilizers Summit and its preparatory meetings, in Abuja in June 2006. Egypt shows its readiness, in this regard, to establish joint projects with  African countries to produce and distribute fertilizers to achieve the green revolution in Africa, as well as to provide fertilizers to African farmers with suitable quality and price.

-Egypt is participating in the E-Schools Initiative adopted by the NEPAD to utilize modern technology in education. Egypt also signed the MOU of the Initiative, and specified 6 schools in which the program will be implemented within the framework of this Initiative, which includes 120 schools in 20 African countries including Egypt. 

Fifth: Increasing support to enhance the capabilities of the AU and the regional economic blocs:

1- Providing the AU Commission bodies, and the NEPAD Secretariat with highly qualified Egyptian nominees:

-Egypt has a number of highly qualified technical cadres who are working in the AU Commission, they are currently six members.

-Egypt delegated one of its specialized diplomats to work in the NEPAD Secretariat in Midrand in South Africa. Egypt is paying all costs (salaries/ transportation/ health insurance/....)

2- The Egyptian initiatives in Africa:

Egypt presented several initiatives which were welcomed by the African Union, such as:

a. Establishing a center for combating contagious diseases and AIDS

Several ministerial meetings were held, in October and November 2005, to reach an agreement regarding the procedures of establishing the center and to present the results to the AU Summit.

b. Establishing an African satellite channel

In coordination with the AU Commission, Egypt hosted the technicians meetings, and presented an initiative for establishing an African satellite channel. The meeting results were presented in the African Ministers of Information meeting, held in Addis Ababa in June 2006. The AU Summit is keenly following up the exerted efforts to implement the Egyptian initiative.

c. Establishing an African organization for Disaster Risk Reduction

In December 2005, during the African Ministerial Meeting for Disaster Risk Reduction, Egypt presented an initiative for establishing an “African organization for Disaster Risk Reduction” under the patronage of the AU, to be located in Cairo.

3- Expanding the free trade area within the framework of COMESA, and benefiting from the Egyptian membership in the COMESA Bank for financing the exportation of Egyptian products to the member states through:

-Egypt was among the first countries to join the free trade area within the framework of COMESA in October 2000.

-Egypt is keen on augmenting trade with COMESA member states. The trade revenues mounted from USD 237 million in 2000 to USD 316 million in 2004, with a 33.3 % increase.

-In this context, Egypt supported the existing maritime lines and established new ones, through Transmar Egypt Co.

-Egypt effectively participates in the meetings related to establishing the COMESA Customs Union, which is scheduled to be established in 2008.

-Egypt is keen on increasing its commercial presence in the COMESA member states through supporting Egyptian exporters, providing the necessary information regarding possible opportunities for increasing exports, and facilitating the participation of the COMESA member states in the annual Cairo International Exhibition, by allocating 25 m2, free of charge, for each COMESA member state.

-Cairo hosts the headquarter of the "Regional Agency for Investment"   which is part of COMESA, and signed the Agency "Headquarters agreement" with the COMESA Secretariat in June 2006.

-Egypt supports the role of the COMESA Council, and the Egyptian Private Sector heads the Council.

-Egypt also supports the COMESA Secretariat in order to live up to its responsibilities, and contributes in training its cadres. Under Secretary-General of the COMESA is an Ambassador from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, who is well qualified in the financial and administrative affairs.