Local Development Min., World Bank talk topics of cooperation in COP27

CAIRO – 25 June 2022: Egyptian Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawy received a delegation from the World Bank Saturday, where they discussed topics of collaboration in the upcoming COP27 conference.  

A ministry statement said that the meeting witnessed a review of the latest developments of the local development program in Upper Egypt with regard to enhancing competitiveness, providing job opportunities and supporting economic blocs in the governorates of Sohag and Qena.

Minister Shaarawy stressed the ministry's interest in developing the work systems of the local administration, developing economic blocs in the two governorates, and linking them to the existing industrial areas “to create an integrated value chain to provide job opportunities that achieve decent employment rates for citizens.”

Shaarawy stressed the ministry's interest in achieving financial decentralization, enabling governorates to manage their financial and economic affairs, and developing local revenues, especially with regard to parking lots, squares, advertisements, waiting areas and markets.

Dr. Mohamed Nada, senior urban development expert, praised the great development witnessed by the local planning component and the development of self-resources in the governorates of Qena and Sohag during the last period and the development of a model regulation governing revenues in the two governorates.

Frederica Rangeri, Director of Sustainable Development Programs, also expressed her happiness with the current partnership between the World Bank and the Ministry of Local Development in many files and programs, especially in Upper Egypt, which has achieved many successes during the last period.

During the meeting, a number of studies and initiatives adopted by the Ministry of Local Development were reviewed within the framework of the ministry's role in the next November climate conference in Sharm El-Sheikh.

The World Bank delegation indicated that the climate change file is one of the pillars of the Bank’s work during the current period.

“Egypt’s political leadership is keen the country be the voice of the African countries in the upcoming climate conference in Sharm El Sheikh,” said Minister Shaarawy, pointing out that there are some challenges facing African countries in the climate change file, and there are possibilities for exchanging Egyptian experiences with the countries of the continent and supporting the World Bank to prepare a vision.

The Minister of Local Development indicated that the ministry will host a conference at the end of next July for the African Ministry of Local Development, in the presence of senior African officials concerned with African cities and governorates.

At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Local Development praised the studies prepared by the World Bank regarding the climate change file, and directed the continuation of cooperation and coordination between the Ministry and the World Bank to achieve the maximum benefit regarding Egypt’s hosting of the next climate conference.