Egypt: former investment minister criticises Davos for hosting military-appointed officials

Minister of investment in the ousted Mohamed Morsi administration wrote a letter addressed to the founder of World Economic Forum, expressing “shock and dismay” at the forum’s hosting of interim Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawy, which he held responsible for crimes against humanity.

“Hosting Mr Beblawy flies in the face of universal human values and is in effect an endorsement of everything that has gone wrong in post-coup Egypt,” Yehia Hamed said.

The letter, which Hamed published on his Facebook page, added that “a government appointed by military leaders can bring neither democracy nor economic recovery. The current regime in Egypt is dragging the country into the abyss, both economically and politically. Economic stability is not feasible or sustainable in the absence of democracy and basic human rights for all.”

Interim Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawy and Minister of Finance Ahmad Galal represented the Egyptian government in the 2014 World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, 22-25 January. This year’s theme is “The Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business”.

Both Al-Beblawy and Galal delivered speeches during the forum, discussing Egypt’s economic prospects after the military overthrow of Egypt’s first democratically elected president.