Cairo: Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk oversaw the signing of a cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Finance and the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) aimed at strengthening ongoing collaboration and harnessing the center's research and technological capabilities. The protocol was signed by Assistant to the Prime Minister and Director of the IDSC Osama el-Gohary, and Permanent Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance Ahmed Abdelrazeq.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the ceremony was attended by Yasser Sobhi, Deputy Minister for Fiscal Policies, Rasha Abdel-Aal, head of the Egyptian Tax Authority, Walid Abdullah, Head of the Public Budget Sector, and senior officials from the IDSC, including Ahmed Helmy, head of the Central Information Administration, Hazem Gamal, head of the Central Administration for Financial and Administrative Affairs, and Khadija Arafa, head of the Central Administration for Community Engagement.
Kouchouk said the partnership will support economic and financial policymaking, streamline public services, and enhance communication with citizens and investors. He emphasized the importance of utilizing the IDSC's research capabilities to evaluate the real-world impact of initiatives and enhance tax, customs, and real estate services. He added that the ministry is committed to employing advanced technological tools to develop and simplify digital services for citizens and the business community.
The minister underlined plans to strengthen community engagement through clear communication, continuous monitoring, and evaluation to ensure sustained service improvement. For his part, Gohary highlighted the IDSC's role in supporting decision-makers across all government sectors.
He further said the center, with a team of 400 specialized researchers in economics, political science, and information technology, provides timely information and analysis to inform policy decisions. He described recent enhancements in the center's capabilities as a significant step toward serving all state institutions and assisting the government in implementing its strategic plans.
The finance minister's vision emphasizes fully utilizing the Center's research, technological, and communication capabilities. The vision envisages a wide-reaching social media presence, which now rivals official government platforms in leading Arab and African capitals for professional and reliable community engagement, he added.
The IDSC also plans to expand such protocols with other ministries and government bodies, further cementing its role as a Center of Excellence and a key service provider for the Egyptian government.