CAIRO - 26 October 2023: Over the past years, the Egyptian state was able to confront the challenges represented by terrorist threats in Sinai, as it believed that achieving development is the primary guarantor of sustaining stability and completely eliminating any terrorist attempts.
The dream of the reconstruction of Sinai has become a tangible reality that the state is living in, after a series of national projects, including: housing projects, seawater desalination plants, the establishment of agricultural clusters, drilling wells, and a comprehensive development plan implemented by the government during the current fiscal year.
Development plan
Since 2014, the Egyptian state has moved on the right path towards developing the Sinai Peninsula, and during the past years it has completed hundreds of reconstruction and development projects.
The state has paid keen attention to the development of Sinai, and this is clearly evident through the government investments that the government allocates in the annual economic and social development plan, in order to implement projects in the fields of drinking water, sanitation, agriculture, irrigation, education, transportation, and others.
The agricultural area increased by about 500,000 acres in the Al-Salam Canal and its surroundings, while the agricultural area that Egypt lost after 2011 was restored through reclaiming new lands.
Regarding the economic development plan for Sinai, Egypt spent more than 750 billion pounds on development projects in Sinai over the past ten years, and the Ministry of Planning, Development and Economics said that the total government investments in Plan 23 /2024 for the development of North Sinai Governorate amounts to about 6.5 billion pounds, of which the public treasury finances about 44.6% (2.9 billion pounds).
The other services' sector accounts for the largest percentage of the total government investments directed to North Sinai Governorate (about 55%), followed by the construction sector with a percentage 10.5%, the agriculture and land reclamation sector by about 6.4%, then the real estate activities and educational services sectors by 5.7% and 5.3%, respectively.
Regarding the total investments directed to South Sinai Governorate, according to the 23/2024 plan for the development of South Sinai Governorate, it amounts to about 5.1 billion pounds, of which the public treasury finances 47% (2.4 billion pounds).
The education sector accounts for the largest percentage of the total investments at about 28.1%, followed by the services sector by 23.1%, then the water, transportation and storage sectors.
Agriculture and land reclamation
The report of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development indicated the most important development programs intended to be implemented in North Sinai during the year , including in the field of agriculture and land reclamation, completing the establishment of 13 agricultural clusters in North Sinai Governorate, in cooperation with the Saudi Fund for Development, as well as completing the establishment of a public irrigation network; completing the supply, installation and implementation of the civil and electromechanical works necessary to establish a pumping station and pipe network.
In the field of sanitation, the plan aims to implement a project to provide needs to cope with rain and extend sanitation service to the governorate’s areas. In the field of other services, the plan aims to implement several projects, including completing the construction of service and administrative buildings to provide a suitable work climate.
Health and society
The state has replaced and renovated existing mosques in North Sinai governorate, in addition to establishing youth centers in the governorate, developing youth facilities, and completing the upgrading of the efficiency and development of Al-Arish roads.
With regard to health services, the plan aims to complete the establishment of Al-Tur Medical Complex in Al-Tur Center in South Sinai, complete the development and construction of hospitals in the governorate, develop Sharm El-Sheikh International Hospital, residential buildings for hospital workers, and the main building for the Sharm El-Sheikh circular ambulance, complete the establishment and development of complementary services for therapeutic hospitals (facilities, networks, electric generators, elevators, consulting work, and civil protection) in the governorate.
Water projects
Regarding water projects in the governorate, the plan aims to replace and renew drinking water network stations in the governorate’s centers, and extend drinking water delivery service to deprived areas.
In the field of education, the plan aims to complete the Industrial Technical Institute in Bir al-Abd, implement murals in technical schools in North Sinai Governorate, and replace dilapidated buildings to protect lives.
Completing the second phase of doubling the tunnel/Abu Redis water line with a length of 168 km, raising the capacity of the water station west of the tunnel from 35 to 70 thousand m3/day, establishing desalination plants in the cities of Al-Tur, Ras Sidr, Abu Zenima, Dahab and Nuweiba, and establishing a ground reservoir in the city of Dahab with a capacity of 5,000 m3. And the ascending and descending line, in addition to the construction of the southern water storage tank with a capacity of 20,000 m3 in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh, and connecting the external facilities (drinking water, sanitation) to King Solomon University with its three branches (Ras Sudr, Al-Tur, Sharm El-Sheikh).
Education
In the field of education, the report explained that the state's plan aims to establish Salman bin Abdulaziz University in South Sinai, rehabilitate and equip general and technical education schools in the governorate.
The development plan aims to establish Azhari institutes in areas deprived of Azhari education, accommodating applicants for Azhari education, replacing and renovating schools, establishing and equipping classrooms.
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