Global Ministers Praise Cairo’s Hosting of the World Conference on Population, Health, and Human Development

Randa Refaat

Mona El-Saghir, Secretary-General of the Global Forum for Media and Development – Global Compact, affiliated with the United Nations, praised Egypt’s successful hosting of the World Conference on Population, Health, and Human Development. The event, held in the New Administrative Capital under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, witnessed the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly and broad international and regional attendance, under the theme: “Empowering People… Advancing Progress… Expanding Opportunities.”During a special dialogue with Professor Desna Janska, Minister of Education and Science of North Macedonia—moderated by media figure Taghreed Hussein, Undersecretary of the National Media Authority and Head of the Diplomatic Affairs Department at the Global Forum for Media and Development, Global Compact—El-Saghir emphasized that investing in people is the fastest and most sustainable path to achieving economic and social development. She explained that human development is measured through several pillars, including quality healthcare, knowledge-based education and capacity-building, the use of modern technology, in addition to a decent standard of living, adequate income, and economic empowerment—factors that collectively reinforce human development.El-Saghir added that the Macedonian Minister praised Egypt’s educational policies, noting that she has benefited from the Egyptian experience in developing the education system. She emphasized that the ongoing reforms in Egypt are aligned with international standards. The minister also pointed out that North Macedonia’s education system—from primary to university levels—relies increasingly on e-learning and artificial intelligence technologies, expressing interest in strengthening cooperation with Egypt and other participating countries to support human development and equip future generations with the skills needed for a rapidly advancing world.The Macedonian Minister further expressed her admiration for Egypt’s notable progress across various sectors under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, noting that her country draws inspiration from aspects of Egypt’s developmental model.Media figure Taghreed Hussein highlighted Egypt’s rapid advancement and its adoption of modern technologies in the education sector, noting that the conference played a pivotal role in fostering educational partnerships between Egypt and several participating nations. This, she explained, will enhance the exchange of expertise and further support the Egyptian model as a reference for successful development strategies.In conclusion, Hussein underscored that “the citizen is the core of development,” affirming that human capital remains one of Egypt’s most valuable assets. She stressed that investing in people is fundamental to achieving economic development and boosting growth rates, adding that Egypt’s comprehensive development framework is built on multiple pillars—foremost among them human development—since no economic progress can be sustained without strengthening human capabilities, the cornerstone of long-term growth and stability.