Ministry of Planning Announces EGP 4 Billion Investment Plan for Qena in 2023/2024

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development announced the Citizen Investment Plan for Qena Governorate for the current fiscal year 2023/2024. This announcement is part of ongoing efforts to release the Citizen Investment Plan across all governorates for the fifth consecutive year. The plan aims 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."

H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, emphasized that the development plan places special emphasis on the Upper Egypt regions. This is achieved through a funding formula based on developmental gap indicators while focusing on making significant strides in specific governorates that previously did not receive adequate attention. The goal is to maximize the benefits of their wealth and developmental potential. She noted that the launch of the "Citizen Investment Plan" reflects the state’s strong commitment to involving citizens in efforts to develop planning and follow-up systems, aiming to achieve sustainable and comprehensive development. This contributes to addressing developmental disparities between different governorates, localizing the sustainable development goals, and achieving the 17th goal of the global sustainable development goals, "Partnerships for the Goals." She confirmed that the citizen is the true focus of development, highlighting the need to empower and provide them with information about the developmental programs and projects being implemented by the state. She added that all developmental plans adopted by the state aim to improve the quality of life for citizens, which cannot be achieved without active community participation, in line with "Egypt Vision 2030."

El-Said pointed out that the number of development projects in Qena Governorate totals 277, with the value of public investments directed to Qena in the 2023/2024 plan amounting to EGP 4 billion.

Regarding the sectoral distribution of the targeted public investments in Qena for the 2023/2024 plan, the report from the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development indicated that EGP 1.2 billion is allocated to the local development sector, accounting for 30%, followed by the housing sector with EGP 933 million at 23%, the higher education sector with EGP 636 million at 16%, the transport sector with EGP 447 million at 11%, and the pre-university education sector with EGP 229 million at 6%. Other sectors will receive investments amounting to EGP 555 million at 14%. This is in addition to projects directed through the Egyptian Rural Development Project "Hayat Kareema."

The report explained that 86 villages are targeted in the first phase of the "Hayat Kareema" initiative in Qena Governorate, benefiting 1.5 million residents, with females constituting 49% of this population. The initiative’s projects, which fulfill all sustainable development goals, include the construction of 39 residential buildings for families in need, 38 social units, 19 agricultural service complexes, 23 ambulance points, 2,112 classrooms, 130 schools, 10 family development centers, 9 drinking water stations, 86 sanitation projects, 8 treatment plants, 108 mobile network towers for fiber optic network connection, 37 youth centers, 19 government service complexes, and the establishment of 71 post offices. Additionally, there are 89 projects for the rehabilitation and lining of canals totaling 383 km and 95 road paving projects for main and internal roads totaling 239 km.

The report also stated that the plan aims to implement 229 development projects in the field of local development services in Qena Governorate, along with 59 projects in the housing sector. Key developmental targets in this sector include directing EGP 556 million to drinking water and sanitation services.