President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reviewed Saturday during an expanded cabinet meeting a raft of issues, topped by the state's security and counter-terrorism efforts.

El-Sisi directed security bodies to keep up their best efforts to maintain security and stability nationwide and provide an environment conducive to development and economic growth.

The meeting also tackled several regional as well as international issues, including the national and regional security challenges posed by the latest developments in Libya and ways to deal with them, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said.

In the past days, Egypt has reiterated its firm support of the east-based Libyan National Army, led by commander Khalifa Haftar, stressing its rejection of "any form of intervention in Libya’s domestic affairs." 

On the other hand, the latest progress in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations was also among the issues discussed during the meeting.

Few days earlier, the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation issued a statement affirming that it is sticking to its demand. The statement was meant to refute news reports claiming that Egypt had agreed to the release of 35 billion cubic metres of water.

Among the other files discussed during todays's meeting were the economic indices as well as the state's efforts to reduce the budget deficit, provide a business-friendly environment and transform the country into a regional oil and gas trading hub.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and the ministers of justice, interior, finance, trade and industry, defense and military production, water resources and irrigation, foreign affairs, petroleum and mineral resources attended the meeting along with the chairman of the Central Control Authority (ACA) and the presidency adviser for urban planning.

The governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and the head of the General Intelligence Service (GIS) were also in attendance.