The meeting was attended by Engineer Ahmed Omran, Deputy Minister of Housing for Utilities, as well as several officials from the Ministry, the Utilities Sector, and the Project Management Unit (PMU).
At the beginning of the meeting, Engineer Randa El-Menshawy welcomed the World Bank delegation and praised the success of the Sustainable Rural Sanitation Services Program (SRSSP), which is financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
She emphasized that the program has not only improved rural sanitation services but has also contributed to enhancing the operational efficiency and performance of water companies.
The Minister of Housing stated that the ministry is currently implementing a wide range of national projects in the fields of drinking water, wastewater treatment, and seawater desalination, in line with Egypt’s vision for achieving sustainable development and improving the quality of services provided to citizens.
She noted that partnerships with international financing institutions play a vital role in supporting institutional development plans, transferring global expertise, and adopting best practices in utility management and operation.
Engineer Randa El-Menshawy also expressed the Ministry of Housing’s aspiration to expand cooperation on future projects and hear the World Bank’s vision for continuing and strengthening this productive partnership during the coming phase, in support of the country’s priorities in infrastructure, water resources, and sustainable urban development.
For her part, Meskerem Brhane expressed her appreciation for the productive cooperation with the Ministry of Housing, reaffirming the World Bank’s commitment to continuing its support for Egypt’s efforts to develop infrastructure. She also praised the significant progress Egypt has achieved in implementing national projects while advancing drinking water and sanitation services.
The meeting included discussions on the outcomes of the Sustainable Rural Sanitation Services Program (SRSSP), as well as future cooperation opportunities between the Ministry of Housing and the World Bank across several priority areas.
Chief among these were infrastructure projects, including household water and sanitation connections, which are expected to contribute to enhancing the sustainability of drinking water and wastewater services in the targeted areas.
The participants also explored mechanisms for cooperation in seawater desalination projects through private sector participation, in line with the state’s strategy to expand the use of non-conventional water resources and strengthen water security while supporting sustainable urban and economic development plans.