Sherif El-Sherbiny, Egypt’s Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, met with Said Mohamed Mahmoud, Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction, and Housing of the Federal Government of Somalia, along with his accompanying delegation, at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. The meeting aimed to explore ways to enhance cooperation and transfer Egypt’s urban development experience to Somalia. The session was attended by Dr. Abdelkhalek Ibrahim, Assistant Minister for Technical Affairs, and Ambassador Hassan El-Leithy, the Ministry’s Advisor for International Cooperation.
El-Sherbiny warmly welcomed the Somali delegation, highlighting Egypt’s readiness to share its vast expertise in urban development with Somalia, as part of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives to support neighboring countries. He emphasized that Egypt is prepared to export its expertise in construction and urban planning, with its Egyptian contractors and consulting firms possessing the skills, resources, equipment, and manpower to participate in various development projects in Somalia.
The Minister also highlighted Egypt’s significant strides in urban development, particularly in housing projects, new city developments, and infrastructure such as water and wastewater treatment facilities. He invited the Somali Minister and investors to participate in the upcoming World Urban Forum, a platform to deepen collaboration and connect with Egyptian contractors, developers, and government entities. The event will also feature a special session for African housing ministers to enhance cooperation and exchange knowledge.
In response, Somali Minister Said Mohamed Mahmoud expressed gratitude for Egypt’s hospitality and praised the strength of the relationship between the two countries. He commended Egypt’s achievements in new city developments, particularly the New Administrative Capital and New Alamein, and emphasized Somalia’s eagerness to learn from Egypt’s expertise as it embarks on its own urban development journey. Mahmoud also expressed interest in working with Egyptian companies on Somali projects and in training Somali engineers and workers to ensure high-quality project execution.
Both ministers underscored the importance of cooperation in the fields of urban development and construction, reinforcing the strong ties between Egypt and Somalia as they work toward shared development goals.
