Ministry of Planning Allocates EGP 7.7 Billion for 525 Development Projects in Dakahlia Governorate for 2023/2024

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development outlined the features of the citizen investment plan for Dakahlia Governorate for 2023/2024 in a recent report. This is part of the ministry's ongoing effort to announce the citizen plan in all governorates for the fifth consecutive year. The goal is to raise awareness among citizens about the directions and priorities of the sustainable development plan for the fiscal year 2023/2024 and its role in achieving "Egypt Vision 2030."

Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, emphasized that the updated version of Egypt Vision 2030 places great importance on ensuring citizen participation in development decisions. This participation is crucial for benefiting individuals, who are the core of development, as well as for achieving spatial justice, reducing geographical disparities, economically and socially empowering local communities, and providing essential services across all geographic areas to bring about genuine community development. She noted that these principles align with the State General Planning Law No. 18 of 2022, which prioritizes enhancing the involvement of key stakeholders in the development process and encourages scientific research and innovation to achieve balanced and sustainable geographic, sectoral, and environmental development. Additionally, she stressed that citizen participation in the development process requires the availability of detailed data on state development plans, enabling citizens to regularly monitor their implementation within a comprehensive and integrated framework that promotes participatory planning.

Regarding the citizen investment plan for Dakahlia Governorate, El-Said explained that the number of development projects in the governorate totals 525. The public investments allocated to Dakahlia Governorate for the 2023/2024 plan amount to EGP 7.7 billion, representing a 10% increase over the 2022/2023 plan.

In terms of the sectoral distribution of public investments targeted for Dakahlia Governorate in the 2023/2024 plan, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development's report indicated that EGP 1.9 billion will be directed to the transportation sector, accounting for 25% of the total investments. The higher education sector will receive EGP 1.6 billion, representing 21%, while the housing sector will be allocated EGP 1 billion, making up 13%. Local development will receive EGP 818 million (10%), pre-university education will be allocated EGP 771 million (9%), and other sectors will receive investments totaling EGP 1.7 billion (22%). These figures do not include projects directed through the Egyptian Countryside Development Project, "Decent Life."

The report also highlighted that 26 villages are targeted in the first phase of the "Decent Life" initiative in Dakahlia Governorate, benefiting 380,000 residents, of whom 48.5% are women. The initiative's projects, which aim to achieve all sustainable development goals, include the construction of five residential buildings for low-income families, 12 social units, eight agricultural service complexes, seven ambulance points, 24 health units, 738 classrooms, 56 schools, eight drinking water stations, 26 sewage projects, nine treatment plants, 38 mobile network towers, the extension of fiber-optic networks, 24 youth centers, eight government service complexes, and 22 post offices. Additionally, 16 projects are aimed at rehabilitating and lining canals with a total length of 75 kilometers.

The report stated that the plan aims to implement 79 development projects in the housing services sector in Dakahlia Governorate, with the key targets in this sector including directing approximately EGP 419.6 million for drinking water and sewage services. In the local development sector, 278 projects are planned, with key targets including paving local roads with an estimated EGP 469 million.