The Minister of Planning and Economic Development reviews the urban agglomeration development initiative before the Parliament’s Plan and Budget Committee

H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, reviewed the "Urban Communities Development" initiative, which targets the cities of the centers and sheikhdoms affiliated with it, as part of the first phase of the national project for the development of the Egyptian countryside, "a decent life", with the plan for the next fiscal year.Dr. Hala El-Said said that the "Urban Clusters Development" initiative aims to achieve integration between the development efforts undertaken by the state in rural and urban areas in a manner that enhances a sense of societal satisfaction, and consistency with the state's directions to localize sustainable development goals in the governorates; Which contributes to bridging the development gaps between the different regions.Dr. Hala El-Said explained that the initiative comes as one of many spatial development initiatives and programs that the investment plan focuses on for the next fiscal year 22/2023.El-Said affirmed the Ministry of Planning’s constant endeavor, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, to launch development initiatives and programs that would achieve justice in distributing investments between different regions, and maximizing benefit from them, thus contributing to achieving Egypt’s Vision 2030.El-Said pointed out that the initiative is based on evidence-based planning, by studying the performance indicators of the development situation at present, and developing an integrated plan to improve the rates of availability of basic services in the centers of cities, similar to those targeted in the villages of "a decent life".The Minister of Planning indicated that the initiative includes about 75 urban gatherings within the governorates of the first phase of "a decent life", which number 20 governorates (Luxor, Aswan, Sohag, Assiut, Qena, Beni Suef, New Valley, Minya, Fayoum, Gharbia, Menoufia). Damietta, Sharkia, Qalyubia, Alexandria, Beheira, Giza, Ismailia, Kafr El-Sheikh, Dakahlia).


 About 4 million citizens benefit from the aforementioned initiative and the financial appropriations for the initial amount of EGP 10 billion.
Dr. Hala El-Said stated that the initiative targets main sectors: drinking water and sanitation, education (establishing and developing schools), health (primary health care units, central hospitals), youth, and sports (youth centers and clubs as well as local development projects (paving roads within cities, developing markets and parking lots, and areas for crafts and workshops).. El-Said explained that the initial objectives of the initiative during the next fiscal year include the completion of the implementation of 35 drinking and health water projects for EGP 1.2 billion.

 The goals also include the development of 15 hospitals and 104 health units at EGP 2.4 billion and the establishment, development, and expansion of more than 8,000 classrooms at all educational levels.