The outgoing Minister of Investment Mahmoud Mohie Eddin on Sunday told Al-Hayat Al-Youm, a TV show aired on Al-Hayat satellite channel, that he was overwhelmed with happiness after hearing the news of his nomination as a new director of the World Bank. The interview comes less than 15 days before the minister heads to US to take up his position. The minister said it would be inappropriate to comment on the future of his ministry since the issue is in the president's hands. The new post will complicate his parliamentary aspirations and family obligations, Mohie Eddin said, and the director position will prevent him from following Egyptian developments closely, but he will never lose interest in his country's affairs, said the minister. Mohie Eddin had been planning to run as a representative of Kafr Shukr, Qaluybiya in the upcoming elections. In his new job, the outgoing minister said, he will be addressing the needs of developing countries. He referred to the fact that Egypt is one of the countries that deals most with the Bank. He added that the global financial crisis has led to more flexible policy at the World Bank, and the world has benefitted signficantly more from Bank policies in recent years than previously. Mohie Eddin denied claims that the nomination was an attempt to distance him from policy. He argued that his candidacy was initiated by the Bank itself and then submitted to the Egyptian government for approval. Until the last minute, he said, he maintained the assumption that he would remain in Egypt. The new World Bank director also noted that he will miss interaction with the public more than he will miss parliamentary activity. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
