EU, EIB, MSMEDA launch Community Development projects in Egypt

Delegation of the European Union, the European Investment Bank and the Enterprise Development Agency are visiting three projects within the framework of the second phase of the Social Development Agreement that was launched in June 2020 in cooperation with the Ministry of International Cooperation, where the delegation visited Port Said Governorate, one of the six governorates covered by the agreement.

The Delegation was received by Major General Adel Ghadban Governor of Port Said. The delegation was headed by Ambassador Christian Berger, head of the European Union delegation in Egypt, and Alfredo Abad, the regional representative of the European Investment Bank, and were accompanied by representatives of the Enterprise Development Authority, headed by Eng. Medhat Masoud, Head of the Central Sector for Community and Human Development, and Wael Hamed, Director of the Agency's Office in Port Said.

On the visit, Nevin Jameh, Minister of Trade and Industry and CEO of the Enterprise Development Authority, commented that it comes within the framework of completing close cooperation with the European Union, as it is one of the most important international donors that finance many agreements and programs implemented by the agency, as well as the European Investment Bank, which is one of the most important partners in implementing Programs and projects in various development fields.

Jameh explained that during the period from the beginning of July 2014 to the end of February 2021, the agency provided funding to Port Said Governorate amounting to 322.6 million pounds, of which loans amounted to 304.1 million pounds that financed about 9 thousand small and micro enterprises and provided nearly 16 thousand job opportunities. EGP 18.5 million was directed to infrastructure projects, community development and training, and resulted in 44 thousand daily employment for the people of the governorate.

Ambassador Christian Berger, head of the European Union delegation in Egypt, said that this project contributes to enhancing the well-being of societies and improving livelihoods, as it is an essential part of the broader framework of cooperation between the European Union and Egypt, whose portfolio amounts to more than 1.2 billion euros in the form of grants. The joint project also reflects the work spirit of "Team Europe", which brings together resources from various European partners, and is implemented in close cooperation with the Egyptian institutions and the concerned governorates.

Ambassador Burger stressed that community development in urban areas is a priority for cooperation between the European Union and Egypt, while urging sustainable development at the local level through community solutions and the involvement of the population in the different stages from design to implementation, and now that in turn is extremely important, especially in light of the repercussions. Coronavirus and the challenges it entails in various fields, such as health and safety, and then the economy.

Alfredo Abad, the European Investment Bank's regional representative, explained that this visit comes in the context of following up the implementation of the agreement projects signed with the Enterprise Development Authority in the target governorates, including Port Said, with funding provided by the European Union.

Abad pointed out that the bank has been cooperating with the agency for many years in implementing many development projects, programs and agreements that would achieve economic and social development and create an environment conducive to entrepreneurship in Egypt.

Major General Adel Ghadhban, Governor of Port Said, praised the agency’s keenness to launch initiatives and agreements in cooperation with various donors to serve development goals in Egypt. He explained that the governorate is keen to cooperate with the Enterprise Development Authority to implement these agreements, which will provide thousands of job opportunities and decent employment diaries for the young man on the one hand, in addition to basic services for the people of the governorate on the other hand.

The delegation visited three projects in the suburbs district of the governorate, namely the 11.9 km long sewage network replacement and renewal project, which is currently being implemented with a 30 million EGP financing, and the Kabouti Youth Center restoration and maintenance project, which was completed at a cost of 4 million EGP, which provided more than 9 thousand An operating day, in addition to the project of restoration and maintenance of Ismail El-Kabbani School, which was implemented at a cost of 2 million pounds and provided more than 3 thousand operating days.

Engineer Medhat Masoud, head of the central sector for community and human development in the agency, explained that the social development agreement amounts to 15 million euros as a grant from the European Union within the framework of the Investment Facility in the Neighboring Countries, in addition to 45 million euros as a loan provided by the European Investment Bank at preferential rates. The European Economic and Social Development Agreement aims to improve the infrastructure and services in local communities and rural areas by using local employment, while the European Investment Bank loans provide new credit services for small and medium enterprises. The Social Development Agreement aims to achieve sustainable development goals, including providing suitable job opportunities, achieving economic growth, encouraging industry and innovation, developing infrastructure and reaching Sustainable cities and communities.

He pointed out that the Projects Development Authority, within the framework of the second phase of the Social Development Agreement, signed agreements with a total of 111 million pounds in six governorates (Alexandria, Port Said, Giza, Assiut, Menoufia, and Sharkia) to provide services in these communities, such as extending drinking water and drainage networks.