Engineer Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, and Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, along with other Egyptian officials, held a meeting with Ana Claudia Rossbach, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN-Habitat. The meeting focused on preparations for Egypt’s hosting of the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12) in November.
Ana Claudia Rossbach congratulated the Egyptian ministers on their appointments and praised the long-standing partnership between Egypt and UN-Habitat, especially Egypt’s leadership in urban development. She highlighted ongoing projects such as Egypt’s new national urban policy and advanced urban planning tools for unique cities.
Minister El-Sherbiny emphasized that WUF12 is a crucial platform for showcasing Egypt’s urban development achievements, particularly in housing, infrastructure, and fourth-generation cities. He also noted that a special ministerial meeting for African housing ministers will be held alongside the forum to share Egypt’s experience.
Dr. Manal Awad underscored the significance of the forum, describing it as a key global event on the UN’s agenda. She highlighted Egypt’s development strides under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, including projects like “Hayat Karima” and urban improvements across Cairo and Upper Egypt.
Cairo Governor Dr. Ibrahim Saber added that the city will present its successful slum eradication projects and infrastructure improvements, which have transformed the lives of millions.