The Ismail Cabinet agreed yesterday to form a new Supreme Anti-Terrorism and Extremism Committee, according to an official statement. The new body replaces the Supreme Anti-Terrorism Committee established by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi last year, but it remains unclear whether the new committee’s mandate and powers will be any different from its predecessor. The ministers also signed off on a list of prisoners that will receive a presidential pardon on the occasion of Police Day and the 2011 revolution anniversary on 25 January.

Also approved during the weekly meeting:

• A EGP 1 bn financing agreement with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to support development projects in North Sinai;
• The EU’s EUR 432-528 mn financial and technical cooperation framework with Egypt for 2017-2022, which was signed in October;
• Beginning of procedures to receive a USD 150 mn guarantee on the third USD 1 bn tranche of the World Bank’s USD 3 bn facility. The World Bank had agreed last month to expand the final tranche to USD 1.15 bn;
• A trade cooperation agreement between Egypt and Gabon, including the establishment of a joint trade committee, which was signed in August;
• A draft law to streamline property registration procedures in new urban communities;
• A decision allowing the Housing Ministry to contract Dar Al Handasa to design the new administrative capital’s business park.