Egypt's newly-elected President Mohamed Mursi has appointed Hisham Kandil, irrigation minister, head of the new government.

Mursi's spokesman, Yasser Ali, said that the president will meet the appointed premier today followed by a press conference held by Kandil, reported the Middle East News Agency.

Ali indicated that the appointment of this "patriotic and independent" figure came after studies and negotiations to elect someone who is capable of administering the current scene effectively.

Kandil was born in 1962 which makes him Egypt's youngest prime minister to date. He is also the country’s first bearded premier. 

Graduating in 1984, he studied engineering at college then obtained a master’s degree and a PhD in irrigation from the United States.

Kandil was appointed irrigation minister by Essam Sharaf in the cabinet that preceded Kamal al-Ganzouri's, following the 2011 uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak.