Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister, affirmed that the state does not aim to reduce the value of subsidies nor the number of eligible families; rather, the goal is to ensure that subsidies reach those who deserve them. Consequently, the state has sought over the past period to determine the volume of those deserving of this subsidy, reiterating that a percentage of families will continue to receive this support due to their eligibility.
He noted that the value allocated by the state for these subsidies exceeds what is allocated in any country worldwide, serving as a social protection program and cash support for its citizens.
During the session titled "Market Regulation and a More Effective Social Protection System"—held as part of the activities of the third day of the "Egypt 2026 Forum", which takes place in implementation of the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic—Madbouly pointed out that the current number of families benefiting from this program reaches approximately 60% of the total number of Egyptian families.
He added that the current system includes only bread alongside about 4 basic commodities, while we find that family needs for commodities vary from one family to another. Therefore, the concept of the commodity cash subsidy program is based on setting a financial figure for each family, enabling it to obtain its needs of essential commodities that support its life; some prefer to receive the subsidy in the form of bread, while others prefer to receive basic commodities.
The Prime Minister continued: "Accordingly, our goal is to open the field for families to receive the subsidy amount they deserve in the form of the commodities they need. Most importantly, this amount takes into consideration inflation and other variables, and the program was prepared accordingly. Every year, the amount allocated for subsidies increases, and over the past years, the government has increased the volume of funding allocated for in-kind subsidies annually."
Madbouly added: Indeed, the increase is happening, but all that concerns me in this matter is that the deserving Egyptian family receives what it needs, emphasizing once again that the design of the commodity cash subsidy program was based on this foundation.
The Government is Working to Secure New Resources to Spend on Social Protection Programs
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly said: "The government is working to secure new resources to spend on social protection programs, stressing that the social protection file occupies the utmost priority for the government. Starting today and for the next three years, the government's primary preoccupation will be to continue working on improving the living conditions of the Egyptian citizen, despite all the unprecedented challenges facing the government, and indeed the entire world."
