Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr discussed with Peter Van Guei, director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) office in Cairo, the activation of Egypt-ILO cooperation protocol on the youth employment programme in Egypt.
The programme aims to provide one million job opportunities over the next three years, especially in the neediest governorates, providing technical training and encouraging small and medium enterprises (SMEs), according to a statement released by the Ministry of Investment on Tuesday.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the World Youth Forum, held in Sharm El-Sheikh under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
Nasr signed in September the cooperation protocol of the youth employment at the end of a senior-level conference on youth and employment in North Africa, which was held in Geneva in the presence of ILO Director General Gay Rider.
Egypt’s unemployment rate fell to 11.98% at the end of the second quarter (Q2) of this year, compared to 12.5% in Q2 2016 and 12% in Q1 2017, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
The two sides also discussed what has been achieved so far in the implementation of the “Better Work Environment Programme” in Egypt, according to the ministry’s statement.
Nasr stressed her ministry’s full support for this programme in Egypt, pointing out that they coordinate with the Ministry of Manpower to implement it.
The ILO-supported programme aims to boost activities of about 30 companies in Egypt, especially in the garment export sector, until December 2017, according to Van Guei.
He said the organisation seeks to support the garment industry, which provides millions of decent job opportunities, empowers women, and promotes comprehensive economic growth.
Van Guei added that a delegation from the ILO will visit Cairo next week to follow up on the developments of the business environment in Egypt.
