The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development’s Delegation Follows up the Availability of the “Green Village” Standards in the New Valley Governorate

The delegation of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development paid a field visit to the New Valley Governorate, to follow up the execution of the standards of the “Green Village” initiative as part of the national project for the development of the Egyptian countryside “Decent Life,” in partnership with the representatives of I Consult for engineering and environmental consolations. 

The Minister of Planning and Economic Development Dr. Hala El-Said stressed the importance of integrating the standards of environmental sustainability in the Egyptian rural areas in line with Egypt Vision 2030. She also stressed the importance of executing the “Green Village” initiative as it is an Egyptian example that other countries can benefit from such experience. She also clarified   that the “Decent Life for a Climate Resilient Africa,” within the activities of the Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Assistant Minister for follow-up of the sustainable development plan Ambassador Gamil Helmy pointed out the importance of field visits to follow up on meeting the criteria that qualify villages to obtain a “rationalization” certificate for green communities, as well as following up the implementation of “Decent Life” initiatives, standing on achievement rates on the ground, and making sure citizens benefit directly from the projects that have been implemented, as well as exploring the comparative advantages of the villages, praising the cooperation with the "e-consult" company and the Egyptian Green Building Association in this regard.

At the outset of the visit, Governor of the New Valley, General Muhammad Salman Al-Zamlot,  received the ministry’s delegation, which included Ahmed Al-Shimi and Muhammad Sharif Al-Hali, coordinators of the “Decent Life” initiative at the Ministry of Planning. During the meeting, the ministry’s delegation gave a brief presentation on the “Green Village” initiative which aims to prepare the villages of the “Decent Life” project to comply with international environmental standards, in order to reach sustainable rural communities, according to a set of standards set by the World Green Building Council. The standards and requirements of the green village in the nominated villages. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor, Hanan Magdy, and the Director of the Planning and Follow-up Department, Ashraf Al-Anwar, and from the “e-Consult” company, Engineer Ahmed Al-Sharif, and Engineer Muhammad Mustafa

The ministry’s delegation visited the village of Al-Bashandi of the Balat Center, during which it inspected the sewage treatment plant, with a capacity of 3 thousand m3 / day, which is powered by solar energy (capacity of 22 kilowatts), the tree forest and cultivated lands relying on treated water, which employs 70 workers, with an area 60 acres, and includes palm and berry cultivation using organic farming methods, pastures for animals, a complex for converting farm waste into compost, and Al-Bashandi elementary and preparatory school, with 9 classrooms, accommodating 220 students, the post office and the veterinary unit.

The delegation also visited the water purification plant with a capacity of 100 m3/hour, the health unit, the village youth center, as well as the projects of the local community development association in the village, which include a workshop for making handmade carpets (wool and silk), a silk cultivation training center, and a nursery.

During the visit, the ministry delegation held a consultative session with the people of the village, which dealt with reviewing the citizen’s guide to the green village issued by the Ministry of Planning, aiming to spread the culture of environmental sustainability and to raise awareness of the most important and simple practices that have a positive impact on the environment in the Egyptian countryside. Finally, the residents welcomed the idea of having their village among the candidates to receive the "Rationalization" certificate for green communities.