Cairo, Egypt – The Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, Eng. Sherif El-Sherbiny, hosted Gelsomina Vigliotti, Vice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), and her accompanying delegation to discuss ongoing projects and future collaboration opportunities. The meeting was attended by Dr. Sayed Ismail, Deputy Minister of Housing, Eng. Ahmed Abdel Razek, advisor to the Minister, and Eng. Ameen Ghoneim, Deputy Head of the New Urban Communities Authority for Utilities and Maintenance, alongside officials from the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.
During the meeting, El-Sherbiny highlighted the potential impact of EIB’s technical, financial, and advisory support in enhancing drinking water services and wastewater treatment across Egypt.
The discussions also reviewed progress on key infrastructure projects in partnership with EIB, including the expansion of the West Alexandria Wastewater Treatment Plant, the sanitation improvement program for Helwan and South Cairo, the second phase of the water and wastewater services program in various governorates, and projects targeting villages polluting Lake Qarun and the Kitchener Drain. The meeting also addressed preparatory technical support for sludge treatment in Egypt.
El-Sherbiny expressed appreciation for the strategic collaboration with EIB, emphasizing its significant contributions to improving water and sanitation services nationwide. He reaffirmed the importance of joint efforts with EIB, especially within the framework of the presidential “Hayah Karima” initiative aimed at transforming rural Egypt and promoting sustainable sanitation services as part of the national water strategy.
Dr. Sayed Ismail outlined the state of Egypt’s water and sanitation sector, praising EIB as a vital partner in developing utilities infrastructure, particularly under the “Hayah Karima” initiative.
Vigliotti, in turn, commended the fruitful discussions with El-Sherbiny and reiterated EIB’s commitment to supporting Egypt’s ambitious plans to enhance water and sanitation infrastructure and bolster climate resilience. She also welcomed ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Planning to prepare projects under “Hayah Karima,” leveraging successful result-based financing models.
Concluding the meeting, El-Sherbiny underscored the priority of these initiatives within the Ministry’s agenda and expressed his eagerness to expedite project commencement.