Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday stressed the importance of national awareness and collective effort to overcome the significant challenges facing the country and to achieve its development and economic growth goals.
Speaking to students applying to the Police Academy, Sisi said, “If the idea of work is ingrained in us, and we work with the required effort, we will ensure high quality in various sectors, both in the state and the private sector, to achieve what we aspire for our Egypt.”
He defined awareness not as mere words, but as an understanding of life’s requirements and the ability to overcome failure, challenges, and negative schemes.
On the topic of elections, Sisi emphasized that the value of a vote cannot be measured by any material reward. “Whatever money or supplies you might receive in exchange for voting for an unsuitable person is nothing… compared to the danger of empowering someone who does not deserve to be your voice and represent your country’s interests,” he said. He urged citizens to choose “noble, honest, loyal, and aware” representatives, stressing that selecting an unqualified person could affect the future of over 120 million citizens.
Regarding the economy, Sisi explained that Egypt had no debt before 1970 and that borrowing began after the 1967 war to finance the state’s needs. He said that a collective will and great societal awareness are required to eliminate public debt and that it was necessary for citizens to understand policies on subsidies and pricing.
“When I have to reduce fuel subsidies, it is not for the sake of increasing prices, but to control the debt and prevent it from growing,” he said, noting that the total subsidy bill for fuel, bread, electricity, and other services amounts to 600 billion Egyptian pounds annually.
“I am the one who said we must solve the problem of Egypt and its poverty… and I know the solution is harsh and painful, but it is a very difficult medicine, and there is no other solution,” Sisi said.
He also addressed the resources required to improve public services, stating, “To have a good budget and spend from it well, you need 50 trillion pounds a year without borrowing.”
On youth and technology, the president affirmed that the state is making significant efforts to train young people in digitalisation and artificial intelligence. He outlined a three-stage digital education programme, from a basic three-month course to an advanced two-year master’s level, which aims to produce cadres capable of working in high-paying jobs. “If we can attract even 10% of high school students to learn computers and programming, we will achieve a real leap in digital cadres,” he said.
Finally, on tourism, Sisi stressed that security and stability are the true foundation for any economic take-off, especially in the tourism sector. “If we provide security and stability, we can establish real tourism development,” he said. He described the new Grand Egyptian Museum as a “small station” in the tourism development plan, stating that Egypt has the potential to host 60 million tourists annually, compared to the current 13 to 14 million. He added that continuing on the same path would soon lead Egypt to achieve 28 million tourists.
