More than ever it is required to relinquish its preference for securing the franchises of foreign made consumer and luxury items for which the vast majority of Egyptians have little need, and to devote greater energy and ingenuity to upgrading the manufacturing base. The government must provide incentives to encourage the private sector in this endeavor. It must furnish the appropriate communications and transportation infrastructure, lift bureaucratic impediments to export trade and assist in developing new markets. And in the spirit of mutual commitment the private sector must creatively engage in enhancing the competitivity of its products in international markets. Towards this end, it needs to allocate resources to the research and development necessary if local products are to meet international specifications.
Democratic development is the necessary complement to economic reform.
By any standards, Egypt has already scored outstanding progress in democratic development. Nonetheless, we aspire to build on that record in order to make Egypt a model for comprehensive development that can be emulated elsewhere in the world. Achieving this ambition will continue to be the focus of our combined efforts as we move towards greater mutual understanding and open-mindedness. However our opinions might diverge, we all share in the aspirations for progress and development. Pertinent here is President Mubarak's frequently expressed belief in a free and responsible press, and his repeated affirmation that there is no authority above the press but the law.