Engineer Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, received Gelsomina Vigliotti, Vice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), to discuss avenues of cooperation in drinking water and sanitation projects. Minister El-Sherbiny praised the strong relationship between the ministry and the bank, noting that the current portfolio of ongoing projects has reached a value of €700 million. For her part, Vigliotti expressed admiration for the progress made and emphasized the importance of the ministry’s role in ensuring the success of these projects. She also conveyed the EIB’s eagerness to further strengthen cooperation in the future.
The meeting reviewed the progress of the preparatory technical assistance project for sludge management in Egypt, which is overseen by the Ministry’s Project Management Unit. This initiative aims to protect public health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support agriculture through the efficient use of wastewater sludge. The project is funded with €2 million. Minister El-Sherbiny commended the results of this collaboration, highlighting its alignment with the ministry’s vision and strategic goals.
The cooperation files between the Ministry of Housing and the European Investment Bank include several key projects, such as:
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Developing sanitation services for villages polluting the Kitchener Drain in Dakahlia, Kafr El-Sheikh, and Gharbia governorates.
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Treating wastewater from villages that pollute Lake Qarun in Fayoum.
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Improving sanitation services in Kafr El-Sheikh.
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Enhancing drinking water and sanitation services in the governorates of Assiut, Minya, Sohag, and Qena.
The cooperation also extends to the expansion of wastewater treatment plants in Alexandria and Arab Abu Saad in Helwan, along with technical assistance for sludge treatment and the preparation of investment projects aimed at reducing pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.