CABINET WATCH- Gov’t to set up joint committees at customs entry points: The Madbouly Cabinet has approved a proposal to set up permanent joint committees to inspect imports and exports at all entry and exit points, according to a statement out following the weekly cabinet meeting. The committees will bring together officials from the Customs Authority, Food Safety Authority, General Organization For Export and Import Control, and other other customs and border officers. The government is currently working on a package of amendments to the Customs Act aimed largely at expediting clearance.

Also approved during the meeting:

• Plans to set up two private, non-profit universities in Rashid and New Heliopolis. Rasheed University and City University of Cairo will be offering engineering, business, medicine, and liberal arts courses;
• An agreement with Telecom Egypt to extend fiber optics to the Canal cities, Luxor, and Aswan. Fiber optic cables will be laid first in Port Said, and then in Ismailia, Suez, Luxor, and Aswan to support Egypt’s digitization drive; and
• Plans to set up a public charity fund for projects to benefit science, culture, healthcare, rural infrastructure and slums development, and street children.