A national committee tasked to prepare an integrated database of all Egyptians living abroad will be set up, as per a Saturday decision by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli.

The committee, headed by Minister of State for Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs Nabila Makram, includes members of Foreign Affairs, Manpower, Planning, Communications and Information Technology ministries, as well as representatives from the Bank of Egypt, and will represent the use and capabilities of Egyptians abroad in support with the 'Egypt Vision 2030 plan'.

“The committee shall have access to any information available on Egyptian expatriates at the relevant ministries and departments” said Cabinet spokesperson Nader Saad.

He added the goal is to make “the utmost of the abilities of Egyptian expats in such a manner that will serve Egypt’s Vision 2030 development plan”. It’s not exactly clear how this database will make use of Egyptian expats’ abilities as no further details were announced.

Today, around 9.5 million Egyptians live abroad, with the a big chunk of them being in Saudi Arabia and Jordan according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS).

Main image from Daily News Egypt