Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak ordered a limited reshuffle of his government Wednesday, replacing three ministers - with two of them receiving new cabinet positions - and also creating a new post of minister of state for foreign affairs, the state-run MENA news agency reported.
According to the state decree, signed by Mubarak, the new post of minister of state for foreign affairs was assigned to Fayza Abul-Nagaa, who is currently Egypt's representative to the UN in Geneva, MENA reported.
Osman Mohamed Osman, who had been heading the National Institute of Planning, will now serve as minister of planning, replacing Ahmed Al Darsh.
Mubarak appointed Mamdouh Ryad Tadros as minister of state for the environment, replacing Nadia Makram Ebeid.
Tadros was formerly first undersecretary at the ministry of agriculture, MENA said, cited by AFP.
Mubarak also appointed Hassan Ahmed Younis as electricity and energy minister, in place of Ali Al Saidi, who was named minister of technological development and industry.
Younis is currently president of an electricity holding company.
Economy and External Trade Minister Yousef Butros-Ghali, whom Western diplomats have seen as a driving force toward a more market-oriented economy, lost his economy ministry portfolio, but will retain his post as external trade minister.
The new ministers will be sworn in Thursday morning.
According to the Cairo-based daily Al Ahram, President Mubarak is expected to hold a meeting with his cabinet after the swearing-in ceremony.
The political editor of the semi-official newspaper wrote that there are three objectives behind the reshuffle. First, to boost communication among the economy-related ministries and institutions, known as the economic group; second, to create more focus on external trade and increasing exports, and third, to strengthen the role played by the central bank and its governor.
In a series of decrees, said AFP, Mubarak incorporated the post of international cooperation, which had been part of the ministry of planning and international cooperation, into the foreign affairs ministry, while the economy ministry's dossier was be rolled into Prime Minister Atef Ebeid's responsibilities.
Egypt's economy has been mired in a recession for the last two years - Albawaba.com
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