The role of Egypt’s military in the country’s economy is likely to be reduced in two to three years, Egypt’s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said on Monday. Speaking via telephone to television host Lamees El Hadidy on her show, Hona El-Assema, Ismail said that the army’s extensive role in the economy is “beneficial” because the military is organized and has the necessary capabilities to assist the state. “Isn’t the army’s sector a part of the state? And isn’t the government a part of the state? Today, there are certain projects that the state should be involved in along with the private sector. A state’s role is needed in some economic projects to ensure a balance and secure the market,” he said. Egypt’s military has been heavily involved in the country’s economy for several decades and is often responsible for infrastructure projects, including building new roads and bridges. The military has also intervened in the last year on a number of occasions to pump certain goods, such as subsidized infant formula and sugar, into the market when supply ran dry. Earlier this year, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi also defended the…
Egypt’s Military Likely to Reduce its Role in Egyptian Economy Within 3 Years: PM Ismail
October 25, 2016
