Minister of Planning, Follow-up and Administrative Reform, Hala Al-Saeed, said on Saturday that the draft budget for the fiscal year 2017/2018 includes a 30% increase in subsidies allocations, compared to the current year's budget.
In a press conference held by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) to launch the second phase of the census, Saeed said that investments amounted to LE646 billion.
The minister pointed out that the budget aims to achieve a growth rate of 4.7%, and said: "We hope to grow at 5%; and there is a big leap in investments in the industrial and agricultural sectors."
She stressed the importance of the census for Egypt, because no country can develop a sound plan except according to accurate data. "The census is in the interest of everyone in Egypt, and we seek a better future through better planning."
She added that the total allocation for the census amounts to LE800 million, and that there are preparations to increase this amount if necessary; especially that the census, as a national project, must be completed to the best of our abilities, according to Saeed.
