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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 21 - 27 September 2000 Issue No. 500 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 21 - 27 September 2000 Issue No. 500
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Elections Development Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Special Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Development milestones
INAUGURATING the first National Social Development conference, President Hosni Mubarak spoke about his vision for comprehensive social development in the coming decades, reports Nevine Khalil. Addressing hundreds in attendance on Sunday, including Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, Prime Minister Atef Ebeid and Minister of Social Affairs Amina El-Guindi, Mubarak listed 10 milestones on the road to development which should enable Egypt to maintain its status on the world stage."Currently there are many challenges on the domestic and international fronts imposing on humanity new concepts of politics, economy, culture and science," said the president. "These all require creative thinking and deep insight to ensure for Egypt a place in the international arena."
Mubarak's list of goals included meeting basic needs, providing the necessary services and raising the living standard of the average citizen; developing human resources through community work; and making root changes in education and scientific research "to enable us to stay on a par with the major technological advances abroad." This should be done not only through importing technology, Mubarak said, but also through home-grown industries.
Other goals stated by the president aim to eradicate illiteracy over the next five years and implement a national programme for raising cultural standards; reduce population growth rates and establish new population centres in the deserts flanking the Nile Valley "to protect our developmental achievements"; and provide health services to all citizens by expanding public hospitals and taking preventive health measures.
Mubarak's ambitious agenda also aims to continue espousing all motherhood and childhood causes because "children are the future and women are half of society"; expand the social security umbrella to meet the needs of all citizens, "especially senior citizens, the handicapped and the socially marginalised categories"; and provide a bigger role for the private sector in reducing unemployment and solving the housing problem.
Mubarak added that the continued modernisation of the media is required.
"Our greatest achievement is to build an Egyptian character that is capable of addressing the future," Mubarak said. The president also issued a reminder that Egypt's economic reform policies take into account the social dimension, ensuring that social considerations are not victimised by ambitious and aggressive economics.
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