Expatriates to boost Egypt's economy

In its first meeting this week, the Higher Committee for Immigration revealed that 34 projects put forth by Egyptian expatriates in the period from May to October 201l were postponed by the Government owing to political uncertainty, a security breakdown and a series of deadly clashes.

According to the committee’s statement, the remittances of expatriates reached $2.2 billion in 2011 and were not affected by incidents associated with the revolution.

The meeting, headed by Minister of Manpower Fathi Fekri, highlighted the need to support ministry delegates in host countries where they could offer investment opportunities to interested expatriates in certain fields.

At the meeting, attended by representatives of 12 ministries, several files were discussed, relating mainly to holding a general assembly for Egyptians abroad. It would focus on the second and third generation of Egyptian expatriates whose link with their motherland might not be as strong as that of the first generation. On the agenda of the meeting were also possible means to activate the role of the General Federation of Egyptian Expatriates.

The Minister of Manpower admitted that several problems were standing in the way of expatriates’ investments. He promised, however, to do whatever it would take to surmount the difficulties.