Ministry of Planning , CBE Launch Financial Inclusion Initiative in Second Phase Villages of "Decent Life" in Luxor

A delegation from the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development conducted a field visit to the villages of the second phase of the national project for the development of the Egyptian countryside "Decent Life" in Luxor Governorate. The purpose was to assess the development status and identify villages' needs for financial and banking services. The delegation included Rami Jalal, Deputy General Manager of Financial Inclusion at the Egyptian Central Bank, and representatives from several banks and the National Council for Women. This visit is part of the efforts to implement the financial inclusion strategy within the "Decent Life" project.

Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, emphasized the importance of cooperation with all relevant parties to benefit from their expertise in providing integrated services that contribute to improving the quality of life in the Egyptian countryside. She praised the continuous and fruitful cooperation with the Egyptian Central Bank in this regard, highlighting Egypt's Vision 2030 and its emphasis on partnership as a fundamental pillar of development, aligned with the UN's 17th Sustainable Development Goal "Partnerships for the Goals."

Dr. Gamal Helmy, Assistant Minister for Sustainable Development Plan Monitoring Affairs, noted the close cooperation with the Egyptian Central Bank to expand the implementation of the financial inclusion strategy within the "Decent Life" project. This aims to provide diverse financial and banking services, enhance financial infrastructure and digital transformation, promote financial awareness among citizens, and provide necessary financing for small and micro-projects, thus boosting the economic component of the initiative.

The General Supervisor of the "Decent Life" project at the Ministry of Planning emphasized the importance of conducting field visits to the targeted villages in the second phase of "Decent Life" to assess development status and identify citizens' needs for financial and banking services. Luxor Governorate was chosen as a model to be replicated in other governorates of the second phase.

The ministry delegation, including Ahmed El-Shimi and Mohamed Sherif El-Helaly, coordinators of the "Decent Life" initiative, visited several villages in El-Bayadeya center, including Al-Habil, Al-Baghdadi, and Al-Rawafa, to inspect suitable locations for targeted financial and banking services. They held a consultative session with the villagers to discuss the importance of participatory planning and gather opinions regarding priority infrastructure interventions and financial services. Additionally, they visited the industrial zone in Al-Baghdadi village, covering an area of ​​over 300 acres, to inspect recently operational factories and raise awareness among workers about financial inclusion.

The Ministry of Planning delegation also visited several villages in Al-Qurna center, including Al-Qabli Qamula village, and held a consultation meeting with the locals. The villagers expressed satisfaction with the ongoing projects within "Decent Life," particularly the provision of sanitation services, schools, and the development of the village's youth center. A comprehensive meeting was held with residents of various villages in Al-Qurna, emphasizing that "Decent Life" is a state project involving all its institutions, with participation from the government, civil society, and the private sector, aimed at providing a comprehensive and diverse package of services in the Egyptian countryside. The citizens' priority projects and initiatives were listened to attentively.

It's noteworthy that the field visit to the targeted villages in the second phase in Luxor Governorate witnessed significant participation from the Egyptian Central Bank and representatives from 11 banks, including: Egyptian National, Egypt, Cairo, Egyptian Agricultural, Commercial International, Qatar National, Alexandria, Housing and Development, Commercial and Financial International, United Bank, and Gulf Egyptian, in addition to the National Council for Women and executive leaderships from the General Diwan of Luxor Governorate and El-Bayadeya and Al-Qurna centers.