Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Saturday that Egypt needs civil society organizations and the work they do.

“The Egyptian state needs the role of the civil society organizations and their work; we are happy with that role, we appreciate it and support it,” said the president in a breakfast held with members of the “The Egyptian Family” initiative on the sideline of a ceremony to inaugurate various housing projects in Badr City, northeast of the capital.

According to El-Sisi, there are currently more than 45,000 civil society organizations currently working in Egypt to support the state.

During the breakfast, the Egyptian president answered the questions of attendees, advising them to follow the official websites of Egyptian ministries and institutions for further information about their programs, plans and work.

He added that it is important to let Egyptian citizens know what is happening in all sectors.

El-Sisi also added that the Egyptian state was working to provide job opportunities.

“[The government] is using places like those beneath bridges to provide job opportunities,” he said, referring to the new bridges inaugurated recently and how the government is renting the space below them to cafes and restaurants, which are providing job opportunities to youth.

He also revealed that the government was working to construct 15 industrial zones as part of its plan to provide job opportunities.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reiterated that the success of the economic reforms program was inevitable, especially given the need for millions of workers in factories.

El-Sisi added that the program’s success was due to the Egyptian people and their patience

Asked about the old rent law debate in Egypt, El-Sisi said that the solution was to provide more houses and apartments to the citizens.

Landlords have long demanded that the law – originally issued in 1964 to regulate the relationship between tenants and landlords – be amended to change its articles freezing rents.

In 1996, the Egyptian government amended the law to state that rent in new buildings would not be frozen; however, this rule does not apply to buildings constructed prior to the amendment.

He stated that there should be balance between the owners and tenants’ needs.

Concerning the new labour law, El-Sisi said that there was a huge discussion about the law in the government and parliament, and that civil society took part in those discussions.

"Nevertheless, no one can say that he will draft the law 100 percent correctly," he added.

The president also spoke about attempts to destroy Egypt, saying the state had “succeeded in thwarting them."

Following the breakfast, the Egyptian president honored several officials in charge of the national housing project.

He also handed over a number of contracts for new apartments in Badr City to citizens.