Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi pledged on Tuesday to maximize the North African nation’s economic efficiency and enhance its resilience after winning a third consecutive term in office.
Sisi was sworn in as president on Tuesday following a sweeping victory in a December election where he won close to 90% of the vote.
Sisi outlined the priorities of his new six-year term in a keynote speech, vowing to "adopt strategies that maximize Egypt’s economic capabilities and resources, and enhance the solidity and resilience of the Egyptian economy in the face of crises."
The president said he would also strive for "sustainable and balanced" economic growth, propped up by a stronger private sector, as well as a greater contribution from agriculture, industries, information technology, and tourism.
"This is in addition to expanding the area of agricultural land and productivity to achieve food security for Egypt, attracting more local and foreign investments to generate millions of sustainable jobs, while giving priority to local manufacturing programs to increase exports and Egypt’s foreign exchange earnings," he added.
Egypt will also seek to become a regional hub for transportation and transit trade, including by boosting the economic role of the Suez Canal.
On the political front, Sisi said, his presidency will seek to deepen national dialogue to strengthen political and democratic engagement, notably among the youth. He also promised to protect Egypt’s national security and forge balanced relations with all actors in what he described as a new world in the making.