Sisi discusses with ministers means to protect youth from harmful ideologies.

CAIRO – 22 April 2019: Egypt's President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi received Monday the ministers of youth of the Arab states and reviewed the various Arab experiences regarding youth activities, and means to protect the youth intellectually from harmful ideologies.

This came on the sidelines of the 42nd session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Youth and Sports and the 63rd session of the Executive Office of the Council in Cairo on April 22-23.

During the meeting, President Sisi highlighted the importance of continuing to expand the role of youth and sports ministries in guiding youth potentials, establishing national unity, supporting morals and developing their spirit of loyalty, presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said.

Sisi also urged working to develop the sport, social and cultural aspects of the young people, and raising their awareness of the challenges posed by the spread of emerging technologies.

Youth constitutes the largest segment of the Arab societies, making them a source of a huge positive energy if adopted well, Sisi said. The president also urged creating an ambitious and progressive plan of action to activate the Arab strategy to invest in youth energies and combat extremism.

The Arab ministers commended the importance the political leadership attaches to the youth and sports fields, especially through adopting many interactive initiatives with youth, and holding national, regional and international events and conferences in this regard, Radi said.

During the 63rd session of the Executive Office of the Council, Egypt's Youth Minister Ashraf Sobhi, who is also the head of the executive office of the council, will be reviewing a report of the Youth and Sports Ministry on the activities of "Cairo Capital of Arab Youth 2018."

The Tunisian Youth and Sports Ministry will make a presentation on the activities of "Tunis Capital of Arab Youth 2019."

The meetings of the executive office will witness a wrap up of the activities of "Cairo Capital of Arab Youth 2018."

At the opening session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum in Washington, Sobhi said that empowering youth is a "top priority" for President Sisi, as youth are the "cornerstone and focus of Egypt's vision for sustainable development 2030."

Sobhi said that his ministry is implementing a number of initiatives and programs to ensure youth's full participation in the political, social, cultural and economic fields.

The ministry also launched a campaign, titled "Development and Change" to bridge the skills gap in the labor market, he added.

The minister added that Egypt has about 4260 youth centers to provide sports culture and special programs to enhance the political and social role of youth.