Cabinet watch: Focus on the African Cup of Nations
CABINET WATCH- Madbouly Cabinet focuses on Afcon 2019: The Madbouly cabinet focused at its meeting this week on preparations for the African Cup of Nations 2019 tournament, for which Egypt host rights earlier this month. Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly instructed the cabinet that the tournament, which will be held from 15 June to 13 July, is a top priority, charging the Planning Ministry with obtaining funding for the preparations, according to a cabinet statement. He also ordered the government to coordinate security for the tournament with the Armed Forces and the other security agencies.
Other cabinet decisions included:
- Approving Egypt’s membership to the African Continental Trade Agreement (AfCFTA);
- Approving a draft law establishing a Technology and Innovation Finance Authority which will be charged with funding research and technology development;
- Approving EUR 48 mn in funding from Germany for renewable energy, SME finance, and education projects;
- Classifying all development work undertaken by the Armed Forces Engineering Authority on the state’s 1.5 mn feddan land reclamation program projects as a national project. Cabinet also granted the Armed Forces the authority to issue licenses and subcontract to anyone it sees fit on its end of the project.