The Egyptian government is working on a medium-term sustainable development plan from 2018 until 2022 to boost growth in Egypt, according to the planning minister. 

The plan is meant to increase the growth rate to 5.8 percent in 2018/19 and up to 8 percent in 2021/22, Minister Hala El-Saeed said during the inauguration of a workshop on SMEs on Monday. 

Mechanisms of implementation have already been outlined, with a focus on promising sectors that could contribute the most to economic growth, El-Saeed explained. 

She touched upon a plan of action meant to upgrade those promising sectors in coordination with all ministries and parties concerned and in partnership with the business sector. 

She made it clear that her ministry is particularly concerned with SMEs to help maintain positive economic growth, which is the direct result of Egypt's economic reform programme that started in November 2016.