Engineer Randa El-Menshawy: We Appreciate the Deep-Rooted and Strong Partnership Between the Ministry and the World Bank
Ms. Almud Weitz Commends the Productive Collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Reaffirms Ongoing Support for Egypt’s Urban Development Plans
Engineer Randa El-Menshawy, minister of housing, utilities, and urban communities, met with Ms. Almud Weitz, regional director for infrastructure for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan at the World Bank, accompanied by her delegation, to discuss opportunities for strengthening cooperation and reviewing ongoing joint initiatives.
The meeting was attended by Engineer Ahmed Omran, Deputy Minister of Housing for Utilities; several ministry officials; and the executive director of the Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund via video conference.
At the start of the meeting, Engineer Randa El-Menshawy welcomed the World Bank delegation and expressed her appreciation for the long-standing and strong partnership between the Ministry of Housing and the World Bank.
She emphasized that this collaboration has significantly supported sustainable urban development and infrastructure progress in Egypt, alongside continued cooperation on urban development and utility projects. She specifically highlighted the subsidized social housing program, which has played a vital role in delivering affordable housing solutions nationwide.
The minister also pointed to cooperation in technical support initiatives, particularly the Integrated Land and Urban Management Project, in addition to the World Bank’s backing through technical specialists and consultants, which has greatly supported the New Urban Communities Authority.
She further noted the continuation of the Technical Assistance Project (RETF), which is expected to support the implementation of the smart cities strategy in new urban communities and provide surveying equipment and devices for infrastructure networks.
Engineer Randa El-Menshawy praised the World Bank’s support for drinking water and wastewater projects, noting that these efforts have made a noticeable contribution to improving the quality and efficiency of services provided to citizens throughout the country.
She also expressed her hope for expanding and deepening cooperation in the housing sector through upcoming programs and initiatives aimed at supporting sustainable urban development and enhancing citizens’ quality of life.
For her part, Ms. Almud Weitz expressed appreciation for the constructive cooperation with the Ministry of Housing and reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to continuing support for Egypt’s sustainable urban development and infrastructure enhancement efforts. She also praised Egypt’s accomplishments in implementing social housing projects, developing new cities, and upgrading drinking water and wastewater services.
Ms. Weitz further stressed the World Bank’s interest in reinforcing cooperation during the next phase, particularly in the fields of smart cities, sustainability, service efficiency improvement, and encouraging partnerships with the private sector, in a manner that supports comprehensive development and improves citizens’ living standards.
The meeting also reviewed ways to expand joint cooperation, including support for implementing smart city strategies in new urban areas, strengthening social and affordable housing programs through expertise exchange, improving data management, and applying international best practices in the development of integrated urban communities.
Discussions additionally addressed mechanisms for supporting public-private partnerships (PPPs) and innovative financing solutions to help speed up urban development projects and increase private sector participation.
The meeting also explored cooperation in future programs and initiatives aimed at supporting sustainable urban development and improving citizens’ quality of life, in addition to providing technical assistance projects and capacity-building programs for agencies responsible for urban development and new city authorities.
Talks further included cooperation in sustainable infrastructure projects, such as green mobility, energy efficiency, water management, and climate-resilient urban solutions.