Off the wire
• UN chief slams military takeover of Gambia's electoral commission premises  • EU adopts new rules for member states to drastically cut air pollution  • European Parliament must be involved in Brexit talks: lawmaker  • EIB grants 120-mln-euro loan for underground upgrade in Netherlands  • China urges Argentina to abide by WTO anti-dumping rules  • Kenya to fight cartels behind theft of coffee beans  • Shanghai revises air pollution alert system  • China to decouple government from environment impact assessment by 2016  • Slovenian businesses turn to Brussels over new Austrian law  • EU urges media to refrain from sensational reporting  
You are here: 　 Home

Expat scientists gather in Egypt to discuss national development

Xinhua, December 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

More than 30 expatriate scientists gathered Wednesday at the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada for a two-day conference to contribute to Egypt's future development plans.

Inaugurated by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, the National Conference for Egyptian Scientists and Experts Abroad, under the slogan of "Egypt Can," hosts about 32 Egyptian expatriate scientists and experts in various fields.

"The conference indicates a message that the critical stage Egypt is going through requires collective efforts of all citizens, home and abroad, to outline effective policies and recommend successful solutions to its old and chronic problems," said Ismail in his opening speech.

"We're looking forward to your ideas and contributions to go ahead together on the path of the desired future," the prime minister told the scientists and experts.

The government will present a number of mega national projects, including the development projects of Suez Canal axis, the establishment of a new administrative capital city, the national road network project, for discussions among participating scientists.

According to the prime minister, the Suez Canal region's development projects could be the focus of discussions as they are expected to provide thousands of job opportunities to alleviate high unemployment in Egypt.

Ahmed Darwish, a senior economic official at the Suez Canal Authority, said he believed the Suez Canal region will become "one of the seven most investment-attractive zones in the world."

He pointed out that the Suez Canal corridor includes four industrial cities and six vital large ports, hailing the development work of Chinese corporation TEDA that operates in Ain Sokhna in the China-Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone.

Darwish added that a five-kilometer wharf, one of the longest in the world, will turn up in the eastern Port Said region, in addition to industrial and logistic zones.

For her part, Nabila Makram, Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriate Affairs, announced the establishment of an institution for Egyptian expatriate scientists which is headed by internationally renowned surgeon Magdi Yacoub, saying the institution will serve as "the link between scientists abroad and different ministries in Egypt." Endit