15-05-2025
Egypt stresses human capital investment as pillar of sustainable development
Egypt's Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, has emphasized the central role of investing in human capital to achieve inclusive and sustainable national development. He also called for fostering a stronger sense of civic responsibility among youth to ensure their active participation in decision-making.
Abdel Ghaffar made his remarks during the periodic meeting of Egypt's Ministerial Group for Human Development, which he chaired. The session was attended by several cabinet members, including Ministers of Youth and Sports, Social Solidarity, Justice, Endowments, and Local Development, as well as deputy ministers and senior advisors.
At the outset of the meeting, Abdel Ghaffar underscored the importance of coordinated ministerial efforts in advancing Egypt's Sustainable Development Strategy – Vision 2030. He highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and digital transformation in enhancing productivity and reducing operational burdens, calling for proactive readiness for these emerging trends.
He stressed the need to improve Egypt's Human Development Indicators (HDIs), which remain a national priority across sectors including health, education, and social protection. 'Analyzing HDI data helps direct development policies and programs efficiently,' he said, citing efforts to empower youth and women and improve quality of life.
Abdel Ghaffar reviewed joint governmental initiatives to modernize Egypt's education system at all levels, from pre-university to higher education. He also addressed legislative proposals aimed at combating challenges such as school dropouts, child labor, early marriage, violence, bullying, and discrimination against people with disabilities—issues with wider implications for population dynamics and societal stability.
He further emphasized the need to equip youth with both technical and soft skills to reduce unemployment, foster economic growth, and sustain sectors heavily reliant on skilled labor.
Youth and Sports Minister Ashraf Sobhy showcased the ministry's efforts in talent discovery, skill-building, and youth empowerment through a broad range of programs. He stressed the necessity of cross-sectoral coordination to achieve national development goals.
Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy presented her ministry's initiatives to extend social protection to vulnerable groups and connect them with vocational training and empowerment programs, ensuring their effective integration into society.
Justice Minister Adnan Fanjari called for long-term strategies that address all age groups, stressing that consistent follow-up is crucial to achieving tangible results.
Minister of Endowments Osama El-Azhari highlighted the ministry's commitment to 'human development through values,' announcing an upcoming launch of a digital platform that will offer educational and spiritual content, interactive videos, children's games, and a GPT-based chatbot. He welcomed collaboration between this platform and the national human development platform to align awareness messages and amplify societal impact.
Local Development Minister Manal Awad emphasized the vital role that Egypt's governorates play in translating human development plans into local action, underscoring the importance of customizing programs to address region-specific needs and maximize available resources.
