Sisi stresses necessity of commercial logistics zones

CAIRO – 21 January 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi inaugurated on Sunday projects in Sohag and Beni Suef governorates, which are the poorest governorates in Egypt, as poverty rates had hit 66 percent of their population in 2016.

Sisi inaugurated Sohag projects through video conference as he was present in Beni Suef. He said that the logistics zone in the latter would allow preserving goods until they are distributed, adding that the state aims to provide citizens with all goods in suitable price and condition.


President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi inaugurates projects in Sohag and Beni Suef governorates on Jan. 21, 2018
The president added that Egypt is lagging behind in accomplishing commercial logistics zones which are necessary to deliver goods in reasonable prices and inhibit any possible damages.



Sisi called on governors to select suitable locations for these zones so that they are easily connected with all facilities and services. He also encouraged the private sector to operate in these zones in order to create jobs and achieve revenues.

The two main projects inaugurated in Sohag are Awlad Salem water station executed at the cost of LE 255 million, in addition to 2,280 residential units at the cost of LE 280 million.


Head of Water Supply and Wastewater in Sohag Mohamed Badry told press that the station would serve Dar El Salam town, and six villages. The station’s production capacity is 700 liter/second, supplying water to around 398,615 citizens.

The station executed by The Arab Contractors is connected with a 55 kilometer network which had been sterilized for 24 hours before the station’s operation started.

The 2,280 residential units are distributed among 98 flat buildings and are connected with all facility networks such as electricity, water supply, water waste, and telecommunication networks. Negotiations are taking place with the Egyptian Natural Gas Company (GASCO) to supply the units with gas.


These apartments are part of the social housing project in Sohag comprising 138 buildings; they were handed to residents who were selected randomly from applicants.
The projects accomplished in Sohag throughout the past four years are in the value of LE 10.34 billion. These projects include five water stations and a roads network.


Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali presented the ministry’s accomplishments between 2014 and 2017, saying that it has built a database of unprivileged families. She made the remark that population growth during that period is unprecedented.

Wali added that most beneficiaries of Takaful Wa Karama (Solidarity and Dignity) monetary subsidies program are from Upper Egypt as it covers 5,630 villages. The state has spent LE 15 billion within the program since it was launched in 2015; of which, LE 13 billion were directed to Upper Egyptian families.


The minister also highlighted that Takaful Wa Karama was the key to push many families to issue birth certificates and national IDs, including 650,000 women. The program benefits 1.5 million poor families in all governorates.

The ministry has also collaborated with NGOs to identify houses that need restoration in an initiative called Sakan Karim (Suitable Housing).