Cairo, Egypt – Engineer Sherif El-Sherbini, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, took part in the first session of the 9th Builders of Egypt Forum, titled “Egypt and Neighboring Countries: Cooperation for Development.” The session featured notable attendees including Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, Eng. Mohamed Shimi, Minister of Public Enterprise Sector, and Eng. Hassan Abdel Aziz, President of the African Union for Construction and Building Contractors. The session was moderated by Dina Abdel Fattah, Secretary-General of the Builders of Egypt Forum.
During the session, Minister El-Sherbini highlighted the extensive urban development projects undertaken since President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi assumed office. He emphasized that these projects, both in scope and scale, have significantly enhanced the capabilities of Egyptian construction companies. These companies now possess the skills, equipment, and workforce necessary to effectively contribute to developmental projects across Africa and the Arab region.
The minister also discussed the Ministry’s goals in maximizing the benefits of Egypt’s upcoming hosting of the World Urban Forum. This event aims to showcase the expertise and capacities of Egyptian construction firms, particularly in a meeting organized for African housing ministers on the forum’s sidelines. This gathering is expected to create opportunities for Egyptian companies in the African and Arab markets, alongside promoting available investment prospects, particularly in new cities like those of the fourth-generation.
Furthermore, El-Sherbini pointed to the Presidential Initiative “Decent Life” for the development of rural Egypt. As one of the nation’s largest projects, it has provided Egyptian construction companies and consulting firms with invaluable experience in upgrading infrastructure in existing communities. These skills, especially the ability to balance development work without disrupting daily life, position Egyptian firms well to tackle similar projects across African countries where conditions are comparable.
