Presidency spokesperson Bassam Rady said that the meeting highlighted boosting cooperation with African states in energy, infrastructure fields, the power linkage with regional neighbors, along with following up with the latest developments regarding Julius Nyerere Hydropower Station (JNHS), also called Rufiji Hydroelectric Power Station, which is a 2,115 megawatts (2,836,000 hp) hydroelectric dam under construction in Tanzania, added the spokesman.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mohamed Zaki, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt Tarek Amer, the head of the Intelligence Agency and the ministers of electricity, foreign affairs, irrigation and water resources, tourism and antiquities, manpower, higher education, finance, interior as well as trade and industry.

Sisi was also briefed during the meeting on some irrigation and land reclamation projects which are currently being implemented, especially in Toshka in south the New Valley and expectations of further expanding the area of farmlands in southern Egypt, said the spokesman.

As regards preparations for the coming academic year, the President ordered all state bodies to be fully ready for any developments in dealing with the coronavirus, asserting the need for following up all precautionary measures to avoid the spread of the virus, the spokesman added.

Earlier Thursday, Sisi inspected models of modern vehicles, equipped with compressed natural gas (CNG) combustion engines, ahead of offering them at the local market.

Produced by giant international automakers, the locally-assembled vehicles are planned to be offered at the markets nationwide at competitive prices and with payment facilities, presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said.

The move came as part of the government’s efforts to support a national project aimed at equipping vehicles and means of public transportation with natural gas-powered engines, given their economic and societal benefits.