Egypt 2026 Forum opens third day with sessions on national security and informal economy

Egypt's 2026 Forum has convened its third day of sessions on national security, social protection, and integration of the informal economy.

• The forum's third-day sessions, convening October 21, address homeland security, social protection, market regulation, and food and water security.
• A session examines integrating the informal economy into the formal system to expand organized economic activity.
• Tunnel expert Hani Azar said investment in people through education and training is the foundation of national development.
• Azar cited Germany's post-war reconstruction as demonstrating the importance of education and training in rebuilding.
• Minister Maya Morsi said Takaful and Karama now serves 4.7 million families with no waiting lists.
• Morsi said the program has reached 8.3 million families since 2015, with 2.2 million having exited.
• Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Egypt's domestic stability, strong institutions, and presidential crisis management underpin its foreign policy amid regional instability.
• Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfik announced a security overhaul, including transparent publication of police complaint investigations and 24/7 emergency patrols.
• The forum's market regulation session will weigh replacing in-kind subsidies with cash support during inflation, featuring Ministers Sherif Farouk and Maya Morsi.
• Supply Minister Sherif Farouk said subsidies for commodities and bread now exceed 210 billion pounds, up from 34 billion, benefiting over 57 million citizens.
• Farouk outlined four support tiers, with Takaful and Karama recipients first, then vulnerable groups, the middle class, and the upper-middle class.
• Farouk confirmed the commodity price reduction initiative will extend for six months beyond Ramadan 2027, to stabilize markets.