CAIRO, November 6. /TASS/. The Government of Egypt has approved a decision to reduce public spending and has suspended the funding of non-urgent projects amid the economic impacts of the crisis in the Middle East, said the official spokesperson for the Cabinet of Ministers, Mohamed Adel.
"The public spending cuts are aimed at creating a financial buffer to overcome the potential consequences of the crisis in the coming months, as well as redistributing budget allocations to increase spending on socially vital sectors, such as education and healthcare," he said, cited by the newspaper Al Chourouk.
The Egyptian government will limit fuel consumption for state-owned vehicles by 30%, the news outlet said. In addition, electricity consumption by state institutions will be reduced by 20%. A freeze of at least 20% on the remaining expenditures for government procurement is also expected. Furthermore, travel expenses, conferences, official receptions, and advertising campaigns for Egyptian officials will be restricted, and purchasing vehicles at the state's expense will be prohibited. The authorities will also suspend the implementation of large-scale projects that require significant volumes of fuel.
The measures are scheduled for three months with the possibility of extension. The implementation of projects in the areas of healthcare, education, water supply, and food security will continue in the meantime.