

Currently released so far... 6239 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
ASEC
AU
AORC
AF
AM
AFIN
AEMR
AR
ASIG
AMGT
AG
APER
AL
ABLD
ASUP
AA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AE
AMED
AS
AGMT
APECO
AO
AFFAIRS
AJ
ACOA
AX
AROC
ATFN
ASEAN
AFGHANISTAN
ADCO
AFU
AER
ALOW
AODE
ABUD
ATRN
AID
AC
AVERY
APCS
CASC
CJAN
CVIS
CS
COUNTER
CD
CU
CI
CO
CG
CE
CA
CMGT
CH
CWC
CBW
CKGR
CR
CN
CPAS
CONS
CDG
CLINTON
CT
CJUS
CY
CV
COUNTERTERRORISM
CIA
CACM
CDB
CAN
COE
CM
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CF
CONDOLEEZZA
CARSON
CL
CIS
CODEL
CTM
CB
COM
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EAIR
EAID
ET
EFIS
ENRG
EPET
ETTC
ER
EG
EINV
EAGR
ELAB
EUN
EWWT
ENGR
EMIN
ECIN
ENIV
ES
EC
ECPS
EIND
EI
EU
ENVI
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ELTN
EZ
EINT
ELN
EUR
EUNCH
EN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
ENNP
ECUN
EXTERNAL
EK
EFINECONCS
ECINECONCS
ECIP
EINDETRD
EUC
EREL
ENVR
ECA
ENERG
ENGY
ETRO
EFTA
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ECONEFIN
EINVETC
EINN
ESA
ETC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ESENV
ETRDECONWTOCS
IR
IZ
IWC
IC
ILC
IO
IAEA
IN
IS
IT
ICRC
INTELSAT
ILO
IBRD
IMF
ICAO
IMO
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ITRA
ISRAELI
ICJ
IACI
INTERPOL
ID
IV
ICTY
IQ
IPR
INRB
ITPHUM
IIP
IL
IA
INR
ITPGOV
IZPREL
IRC
INRA
INRO
IRAJ
IEFIN
IF
KE
KCRM
KDRG
KIPR
KCOR
KSCA
KBIO
KDEM
KMCA
KMPI
KNNP
KJUS
KOMC
KGHG
KSUM
KSTC
KIRF
KTIP
KWMN
KZ
KG
KTFN
KHLS
KPAO
KFRD
KTIA
KOLY
KCFE
KISL
KFLU
KPKO
KWBG
KTBT
KTDB
KOCI
KUNR
KAWK
KICC
KPAL
KSTH
KN
KS
KGIC
KNPP
KWAC
KMDR
KAWC
KBCT
KIDE
KFLO
KWMNCS
KSEP
KU
KNEI
KVPR
KACT
KRAD
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCIP
KSAF
KV
KSPR
KPRP
KFSC
KCRS
KR
KRFD
KX
KO
KPWR
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KFIN
KGCC
KPIN
KHIV
KPLS
KIRC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KGIT
KBTS
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KWMM
KRVC
KNSD
KVIR
KNUP
KTER
KDDG
KHSA
KMRS
KHDP
KTLA
KPAK
KNAR
KREL
KPAI
KTEX
KCOM
KNNPMNUC
KPOA
KLIG
KHUM
KDEV
KNUC
KCFC
KREC
KOMS
KWWMN
MASS
MP
MARR
MOPS
MNUC
MX
MO
MCAP
MY
ML
MU
MIL
MC
MTRE
MA
MD
MTCRE
MEPI
MAR
MRCRE
MR
MV
MPOS
MZ
MEPP
MOPPS
MAPP
MASC
MT
MERCOSUR
MK
MDC
MI
MAPS
MCC
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MTCR
MG
OVIP
OREP
OTRA
OSCE
OECD
OIIP
OEXC
OPCW
OPIC
OPDC
OPRC
ODIP
OVP
OSCI
OAS
OFDP
OTR
OSAC
OIC
OFFICIALS
OIE
PREL
PGOV
PHUM
PTER
PE
PINR
PINS
PARMS
PARM
PHSA
PA
PK
PBTS
PO
PREF
POL
PLN
POLITICS
PROP
PL
PM
PAO
PSI
PG
PEPR
POV
PALESTINIAN
PINT
PSOE
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PBIO
PECON
PAK
POGOV
PINL
PKFK
PMIL
PY
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PUNE
PORG
PHUMPREL
PF
POLINT
PHUS
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PNAT
PGOVE
PRGOV
PRL
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PINF
PEL
SNAR
SO
SENV
SU
SCUL
SOCI
SP
SC
SA
SMIG
SAN
SZ
SW
SN
SY
SR
SL
SEVN
SF
SYR
SI
SG
STEINBERG
SIPRS
SH
SNARCS
SOFA
SANC
SHUM
SK
ST
TERRORISM
TRGY
TZ
TX
TBIO
TSPA
TS
TSPL
TW
TU
TD
TIP
TURKEY
TP
TI
TC
TPHY
TH
TO
TK
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TR
TFIN
TT
UG
UK
UP
UNGA
UNHRC
UZ
UN
UNAUS
USTR
UNSC
US
UNEP
UY
UNESCO
USUN
UNHCR
UAE
UNMIK
USEU
UV
UNO
UNDP
UNCHS
UNVIE
UNCHC
UE
UNDESCO
USAID
UNDC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09CAIRO1415, EGYPT: FOLLOW-UP TO THE CAIRO SPEECH
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09CAIRO1415.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09CAIRO1415 | 2009-07-22 14:02 | 2011-02-16 21:09 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Cairo |
VZCZCXRO3538
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #1415/01 2031401
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221401Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3250
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 CAIRO 001415
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ELA AND NEA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL KIRF EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: FOLLOW-UP TO THE CAIRO SPEECH
REFTEL: A. STATE 71325 B. CAIRO 1158
-------
SUMMARY
-------1.(U) Even before Air Force One departed on June 4, Embassy Cairo began wide-ranging consultations with Egyptian civil-society, private sector, and government leaders focused on implementing President Obama's ideas. Egyptians are proud and excited that the President chose Cairo as the speech venue and have been eager to talk about follow-up. Embassy Cairo has reached out at all levels, from student leaders to the business community to senior government officials. Perhaps more significantly, Egyptians have been equally forward leaning in reaching out to us. The President's speech has energized the Egyptian-U.S. dialogue in a way few observers here remember. The challenge will be to maintain that momentum as we look for practical ways to put the ideas into practice. Key points in our dialogue with Egyptians include: -- Civil society leaders indicated strong interest in collaboration on women's issues, freedom of expression, judicial independence, and access to education. They urged quick implementation of follow-up activities. -- Business leaders and Egyptian government officials emphasized skills development. We expect to take part in developing several public-private partnerships targeted at entrepreneurship and human capital development. -- The GoE response was immediate and constructive. Ongoing efforts to re-focus USG economic assistance on improving education have picked up speed. In the short-term, we expect to use existing ESF funds to expand scholarships for post-graduate programs in education, help implement a model science and technology high school program, and expand programming that provides job skills to young people. -- Dialogue between Muslims and the West will continue to be a cross-cutting issue in our engagement with Egyptians and a key theme of a series of upcoming thematic roundtables that reflect the goals the President outlined in the speech. -- The media widely covered post-speech engagement by the Ambassador and other mission members.
2.(U) Our engagement here has also reflected Egypt's key regional role. Egyptians are eager to be seen as regional leaders in embracing and responding to the President's call for dialogue, and are in a position to offer a substantial boost to a regional implementation process, either as a host to coordinated U.S. efforts or as a facilitator of well-integrated regional follow-on efforts. The Arab League, headquartered in Cairo, has already expressed an interest in working with the USG on several initiatives, including access to education and building entrepreneurship skills in the region. Key interlocutors like the Speaker of the People's Assembly, Dr. Fathi Sorour, have suggested that the speech "opened a new page" in the Arab world's dialogue with the U.S. - an indication of the sense of optimism the speech has generated. End Summary. ------------------- Engagement Thus Far -------------------
3.(U) The overwhelmingly positive response to the speech was accompanied by a clear call for rapid implementation. Our engagement has generated numerous ideas about how to move forward, both through the expansion of existing initiatives as well as new proposals in areas like education, supporting innovation through science and technology initiatives, and skills based approaches to economic empowerment. We have already begun to discuss these initiatives with the GoE. This cable outlines our engagement to date, according to the priorities set out by the speech, and includes specific proposals for scaling up successful programs that address these areas of engagement. These program proposals follow earlier suggestions regarding follow-up to the President's speech in Egypt (Ref B), which emphasized improving education and access to opportunity. The majority of proposals below (See paras 15 to 18) seek to address needs with existing FY2009 funds (with the option of expansion in FY2010). --------------------------- Human Development/Education ---------------------------
4.(U) CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT, ENGAGING YOUTH: Immediately following the speech, the Embassy conducted three civil society roundtables: the first led by Secretary Clinton, in which participants like the National Council of Women expressed an interest in participating in the Secretary's "Civil Society 2.0" initiative, a second with White House advisor Dahlia Mogahed and a third with Under Secretary for Political Affairs William Burns. In CAIRO 00001415 002 OF 004 each, civil society leaders expressed anxiety about continued U.S. support for human rights and democracy promotion. Participants urged continued focus on freedom of speech, strengthening judicial independence, and fighting corruption as key to an "infrastructure for democracy." U/S Burns also met with a variety of GoE officials on a "Strategic Dialogue" initiative that will include a civil society component. Public Affairs engaged the Embassy's educational partners, AMIDEAST, the Institute for International Education (IIE), Fulbright, and the Egyptian Association for Educational Resources (E-ERA), on the way forward. All recommend an expansion of current USG-funded programs including scholarships and exchanges, training in English, IT, entrepreneurship skills and vocational education that targets disadvantaged youth and is linked to the job market.
5.(U) Embassy Cairo also reached out to youth directly, raising the President's goals in a variety of academic settings. The Ambassador participated in a Cairo University sponsored roundtable on the President's speech where participants discussed U.S. commitments to human rights, Middle East peace, and economic development. The Ambassador also addressed two groups of students from joint U.S.-Egyptian advanced degree programs in business and law, emphasizing the importance of education and innovation.
6.(U) GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIONS: As part of ongoing engagement in an effort to re-orient U.S. assistance towards education, Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Aboul Naga underlined the GoE desire to focus on education, a point reflected also in a June 10 letter to Secretary Clinton from Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, in which he requested support for capacity building in the education system. Separately, the Minister of Education reaffirmed that President Obama's initiatives matched Egypt's efforts well and welcomed USG support in teacher training, increased scholarships for graduate study in education, and efforts to match student skills with employer's needs. The Minister of Higher Education urged an increase in funding of the Fulbright program in Egypt, with a focus on science and technology, English partners assigned by field of study, and digital learning initiatives. The Minister of Health urged support for additional scholarships to U.S. MBA programs.
7.(U) INITIATIVES OUTSIDE OF CAIRO: NGO representatives from Alexandria told the Ambassador that improvement of basic education is the cornerstone of progress in Egypt. The American Center Alexandria is working with the group to establish an Alexandria NGO Association which would provide networking and training for its members, a volunteer clearinghouse, promote volunteerism, and establish a small grants program. ------------------------------------- Entrepreneurship/Economic Empowerment -------------------------------------
8.(U) CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT, REACHING OUT TO BUSINESS: Our engagement with the Egyptian Young Businessmen's Association has been particularly fruitful. The group has committed to the creation of an implementation plan to include areas of mutual interest, like entrepreneurship development and renewable energy. Speaking to the MEPI-funded Middle East and North Africa Business Women's Network, the Ambassador underlined our commitment to improve economic opportunity for women and girls in the region. At an Ambassador-hosted economic roundtable, experts suggested that while Egypt's economic policy has made progress, commitment to reform and transparency issues remain problematic.
9.(U) GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIONS: We have exchanged ideas with the GoE on ways of increasing innovation and entrepreneurship, including discussions with the Minister of Investment, Minister of Environmental Affairs, Minister of Manpower and Migration and the Minister of Economy and Trade, with whom we discussed the strengthening of trade relations between the U.S. and Egypt. At that meeting, Ministry officials noted specific industries that might benefit from U.S. technical assistance including vocational training and spurring entrepreneurs in vital and under-served fields. The GoE already produces regular annual reports on Egyptian competitiveness, which are a good basis for a way forward. We expect to see specific proposals from the Ministry. The Ministry of Higher Education has ongoing projects on ways to provide youth with skills the labor market needs and promote entrepreneurship among students.
10.(U) INITIATIVES OUTSIDE OF CAIRO: Alexandria Business Association members have provided us with a list of several concrete proposals to implement the President's initiatives including: increased financing and technical assistance for women's SME projects; a human resources training center; and establishing a center of scientific excellence at the Mubarak Center for Scientific research in Alexandria. ---------------------- Science and Technology ---------------------- CAIRO 00001415 003 OF 004
11.(U) CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT, ACCESS TO INFORMATION: Embassy Cairo has already begun to pursue ways to support translation of educational materials (textbooks, classroom materials, teacher guides) for electronic delivery. We have engaged two Egyptian publishing houses, pioneers in electronic delivery of scientific and education materials in Egypt, to distribute Arabic-language instructional materials electronically. The Embassy is also looking at opportunities to translate education web sites and create Arabic-language mirror sites, including consultations with the Egyptian Digital Library Consortium.
12.(U) GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIONS: Our engagement on innovation and science and technology has focused on the need to improve the quality of Egyptian graduates and to ensure that they play a significant role in economic development. The Ministers of Education, Higher Education, Investment and Economy have highlighted to us science and technology scholarships and online learning strategies for improving science and technology skills. Ideas on possible U.S. support for science and technology model high schools have been well received. These state-of-the-art schools would also be defined as scientific centers of excellence and act as training sites for teachers from across the country. We have engaged staff at both the Ministry of Science and Technology and the U.S.-Egypt Joint Science/Technology Program on expanding the Program's activities in an effort to focus ongoing cooperation on applying science to local problems. This fund has supported over 400 collaborative projects since its inception in 1995 including efforts to identify Egyptian scientific projects with commercial potential. The GoE also has an ongoing pilot program through the Ministry of Science and Technology which provides stipends, education, and career development to young researchers. ---------------------- Interfaith Partnership ----------------------
13.(U) Strengthening dialogue between Muslims and the West has been a key theme in all of our discussions with Egyptians. New opportunities for follow-up dialogue are emerging and we have begun engaging directly on this issue with religious and cultural leaders. The Acting DCM attended a conference of the Sufi orders in Cairo, during which a number of speakers praised the core message of the President's speech, even while criticizing other aspects of U.S. foreign policy. In response to our engagement, the Biblioteca Alexandrina has proposed establishing a Middle East branch office of the Council of Religions for Peace to organize interfaith discussions and implement interfaith projects for women, youth, and poverty eradication. Ambassador has engaged cultural contacts in the film, media and publishing industries to discuss ways to use new media to include youth and intellectuals in a new dialogue that would include faith. ---------------------- Programming Activities -----------------------
14.(U) In addition to considering new programs, Embassy Cairo has been looking at ways to build on what is already working here, particularly in education and science and technology. Many of the proposed new or expanded programs below can be funded through FY 2009 ESF with the potential for increased funding in FY2010. Programming that specifically addresses engagement on inter-faith partnership will be integrated into each of these initiatives, either through targeting recruitment, to ensure representation of the full spectrum of religious belief in Egypt, or through incorporating conflict-management modules that might address a wide variety of social concerns. -------------------------------- Education and Science/Technology --------------------------------
15.(U) Current education activities funded through FY08-FY09 ESF include a variety of programs that target students and their teachers at all points along the educational continuum. Basic education programming has improved learning achievements for 120,000 girls, while separate literacy programs focus on providing basic skills to adults, with a special focus on women. Our long-standing teacher training program strengthens the professional development system to ensure quality instruction. The Embassy supports educational and cultural exchange and institutional capacity building through several scholarship programs. We also have a long standing cooperation with Egypt that supports advanced research in the sciences. The U.S.-Egypt Joint Science/Technology Program has supported over 400 collaborative projects that apply science to real world problems, like water and soil quality, since 1995.
16.(U) Proposed new education and science/technology programming: -- Centers of Excellence in Science and Math Secondary Schools: These model high schools will provide quality instruction, state-of-the-art labs, enhanced curriculum, and extra-curricular CAIRO 00001415 004 OF 004 activities to the students. Strategically located in three Egyptian governorates, the Centers of Excellence will be also be used as training sites for teachers, teacher supervisors, and other education professionals from across the country. -- Science/Technology Enrichment Education: Generate excitement and awareness for science education though low-cost programs that would include: after-school English language science programs, summer science camps, an Arabic-language scientific television program, and a nation-wide science fair with a prestigious award. -- Science/Technology Field Internships: Work with public secondary school and university students to locate paid summer internships in their fields of interest at research institutes, universities, and private high-tech companies. -- Teaching Online: Support translation of educational materials (textbooks, classroom materials, teacher guides) for electronic delivery. Partner with local publishers already delivering Arabic-language instructional materials electronically. Create Arabic-language mirror sites to science education web sites such as Discovery and National Geographic. Egypt could serve as a regional hub for these activities. -- Professional Academy for Teachers: Provide training and assistance to this new Ministry of Education institution that provides professional development, mentoring, and certification standards for Egyptian teachers. -- Expand Scholarships/Exchanges: Significantly expand scholarship programs that provide English-language learning opportunities to under-privileged youth and university students. -------------------- Economic Development -------------------- 17. (U) Current USG economic development activities funded through FY08-FY09 ESF are focused on efforts to match youth with opportunities in the labor market. This includes providing technical assistance for Ag-Tech schools to ensure improved training and access to the latest best practices. Internships provided through the program give students real work experience. Through a public-private partnership with H.J. Heinz Company, another program works with thousands of small farmers to teach them how best to meet modern market demands. Support for several pilot Youth Centers for Employability has been very successful, providing a job training program and facilitating local recruitment. 18. (U) Proposed new economic development programming: -- Bi-national Initiative for post-graduate masters and PhD degrees: Increase the numbers of scholarships to U.S. institutions to fill critical skill gaps identified through input from the GOE, the private sector, and the National Competitiveness Council. -- University Career Development Centers: Provide entrepreneurship and life-skills training, including internships and career fairs. -- Youth Centers for Employability: Upgrade existing centers and incorporate new training programs to include literacy, math, IT, English language programs, as well as problem solving and interviewing tactics. -- Entrepreneurial Growth Initiative: Partner with business associations to support micro, small and medium businesses (with a focus on women entrepreneurs) gain access to venture capital and business development training (i.e. how to prepare business plans). Support GoE efforts to help firms navigate the registration, tax, and licensing requirements. -- Focus on Franchising: Franchising is a means to create jobs and transfer key management and technical skills from franchisor to franchisee. FCS will provide technical assistance on new franchise legislation, determine appropriate sectors for vocational-tech industries (i.e. plumbing, automotive, electrical) and provide technical assistance/counseling for new franchise opportunities.