Egypt s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi thanked the Egyptian people for the achievements achieved over the past five years during the inauguration of the seventh edition of the National Youth Conference on Tuesday.
In his opening speech, the Egyptian president said that the youth conferences Egypt hold regularly have given a huge amount of positivity and hope.
The seventh edition of the National Youth Conference kicked off in the New administrative capital for the first time under the auspices of the president.
The first session of the two-day event began with a short documentary featuring Egyptian youths who gave beaten the odds and achieved success nationally and internationally, including Farrah El-Dibany, the first Egyptian and Arab mezzo-soprano in Opera De Paris, and Mariam Azab, who won Egypt s first gold media in Equestrianism at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi in March 2019.
The first session also included three speakers representing successful young Egyptians like Sherif El-Abd, the second Egyptian to climb Mount Everest.
During the second, delegates discussed various issues including economic reforms, transportation and housing.
Participants drew a comparison between the economic situation before 2014 and following the reforms that started in 2016.
El-Sisi said he would have called for early presidential elections had the Egyptian people rejected the economic reforms first phase in November 2016.
"I told the cabinet [ministers] to prepare and tender their resignations the next day in case the people showed discontent with the first phase of the economic reforms in November 2016," he said. "Also, I would have called for early presidential elections."
In November 2016, Egypt floated its currency among other measures taken as part of a $12 billion loan deal with the IMF, which is now close to being concluded.
On Ethiopia s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which has raised fear that Egypt s Nile water share could decrease, El-Sisi said the country is up for more negotiations.
"Currently we are implementing a plan for water treatment to fulfill the country s water needs," El-Sisi said.
