Minister: Government committed to reducing rates of unemployment

International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr said on Wednesday the government is committed to providing more job opportunities for youth to reduce the rates of unemployment.

Also, it is determined to promote creativity, support small and medium-sized enterprises, she added.

The government is working on strengthening social justice and economic growth, she noted.

She made the remarks during her meeting with Director of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Cairo Office Peter Van Rooij. 

During the gathering, Sahr asserted the government endeavors to get small and medium-sized enterprises financed.

This will contribute to creating further job openings for young men and raising the standard of living as well as achieving the sustainable development, she underlined.

In this regard, the Egyptian minister pointed out to a $200-million grant offered by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) for backing small and medium-sized enterprises.

For his part, Peter Van briefed Sahr on a number of initiatives launched by his organization over the past period to help provide more job opportunities for youth, adding the main goal nowadays is to reduce the levels of unemployment in Egypt.