3 - 9 May 2001
Issue No.532
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 3 - 9 May 2001 Issue No.532 |
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Challenging horizons
On the occasion of Labour Day, President Mubarak addressed the main issues confronting Egypt on the road to further progress, reports Nevine Khalil
President Hosni Mubarak, speaking to a Labour Day rally on Monday, said the government's priorities are to improve the quality of life, ensure domestic prosperity, guarantee social stability and equip Egypt with the tools needed to meet future challenges. He also stressed a commitment to continued economic and political reform. Mubarak, who celebrates his birthday on Friday, told a gathering of leading trade unionists and government officials that "political and economic reform must go hand-in-hand to serve development and democracy. This is the course to which we are committed."
President Mubarak at the Labour Day ceremony with Prime Minister Atef Ebeid and Minister of Manpower and Emmigration Ahmed El-Amnawi
He argued that Egypt would have made less progress in economic reform without the political reform begun in the 1980s. This reform was based on respect for the law, freedom of the press, a vital role for the opposition and the independence of the judiciary, he said. "We will continue reform on both tracks," the president assured his audience, adding that democratic reform would not be successful without the continued participation of all legal political parties, spearheaded by the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP).
"I look forward to a tomorrow when national progress is propelled forward by political parties which depend on younger cadres," he said, "where the young are at the forefront of advancement in the government, non-governmental organisations and political parties."
Mubarak stressed that the younger generations were the building blocks of the future and must be "propelled to the forefront to take part in building their nation and shouldering responsibility for the future."
In a globalised world which imposes "strict demands" on nations, he said, Egypt must plan its policies on the basis of the development of its institutions. He stressed that the quality and quantity of exports must be increased, as international markets are very competitive. The responsibility for this should be partly shouldered by the Egyptian labour force, which needs to upgrade its performance through continued training and "keeping abreast with modern standards and the latest technology." He noted that workers need continuous training, which ideally should be provided by the combined efforts of the public and private sectors. "The private sector is also required to furnish job opportunities for youths, increase production and improve exports," insisted the president. Some 750,000 new workers join the workforce every year, and providing at least 500,000 jobs a year is a must, Mubarak said, urging that merit be the only criterion in choosing new employees.
He noted that the private sector is defined not only as big businesses, but, more importantly, as medium- and small-size enterprises as well. "The tens of thousands of medium- and small-size enterprises make up the majority of producers," he said. "And the government fully supports their activities and progress."
Driving the point home, Mubarak noted that the private sector plays a key role in improving the standard of export products. "This is a vital issue for the future of our economy," he said. Underlining the importance of his argument, the president said that Egypt must give priority to redressing the trade imbalance with most of its partners -- overall, exports equal only one-third of imports. Although citing "some improvement" in the quality of non-traditional export products, he said, "The overall output is still modest in comparison to our target." He called on all Egyptians to buy Egyptian to raise the quality of domestic products and make them more competitive.
Another challenge Mubarak addressed in his Labour Day speech was the 2.1 per cent annual population growth, which he described as "swallowing up much of our revenues from development." He said that Egyptians were increasing at a rate of 1.3 million every year, "a figure which hinders development efforts. Our resources cannot handle this. Ideally we should stabilise at a growth rate of 1.8 per cent."
In addition to controlling population growth, ensuring social stability and national unity is also a priority, according to the president. "We must all unite against attempts to drive a wedge between Muslims and Christians and tamper with our social fabric." Mubarak added that the social impact of any new legislation or reform "is scrutinised to ensure social solidarity."
In conclusion, Mubarak -- who celebrates his birthday on Friday -- said that the road for development requires "diligent work, doubled efforts and speed in order to bridge the gap separating us from other nations which are more developed." He was confident that his countrymen would meet this challenge in a determined and principled manner. "Although the task ahead may appear impossible, we have bravely embraced our duty with confidence," vowed the president.
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