Within the framework of the productive and ongoing cooperation between Egypt and its international partners to bolster efforts for sustainable urban development and apply the latest global methods in land and asset management in new cities, an important meeting was held.
Led by Dr. Abdel Khaleq Ibrahim, Assistant Minister of Housing for Technical Affairs and Supervisor of the Technical Support Unit, the meeting took place at the headquarters of the Sheikh Zayed City Development Authority. It was attended by representatives from a World Bank mission and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to follow up on the latest developments in the implementation of the Integrated Urban Management and Land Administration project in Egypt.
The meeting witnessed active participation from Engineer Marwa Hussein, Chairperson of the Sheikh Zayed City Development Authority, and Mr. Pietro Lazzeri, Head of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), alongside a Swiss delegation of experts and consultants, and a number of representatives from the World Bank and local experts.
During the discussions, Dr. Abdel Khaleq Ibrahim highlighted the vision of the Egyptian state, represented by the Ministry of Housing, for urban development. This was achieved by reviewing current challenges and the concrete steps taken to develop existing urban areas. He also addressed the latest national strategies for new smart cities that have been implemented in the first phase in a number of Egyptian cities.
Projects funded by the Swiss government and their tangible impact were highlighted as part of Egypt’s Vision 2030 for sustainable development. The meeting also discussed future opportunities for financing new projects that support the transition towards smart cities and enhance the institutional aspects of sustainable urban development.
For her part, Engineer Marwa Hussein provided a comprehensive overview of the efforts of the Sheikh Zayed City Authority in developing infrastructure and achieving digital transformation through the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). She also presented the progress of work on the project’s pilot model within the city, pointing to the significant support provided by Egyptian-Swiss cooperation in enhancing the city’s smart sustainable development strategies.
Following the meeting, the delegation conducted a field tour of some prominent sites in Sheikh Zayed City, such as the water tank area. During the tour, the latest technologies used in integrated land management and linking spatial data to urban planning processes were showcased. The importance of feasibility studies and the effective operation of projects to maximize the utilization of the city’s resources and assets was also discussed.
This meeting and the field tours underscore the commitment of the Egyptian state and its international partners to adopting best practices for achieving sustainable urban development. They reflect the ambitious vision of transforming new cities into advanced smart models that efficiently serve the community and the economy.
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