1st stage of SECO-financed Sustainable Recycling Industries project finalized

CAIRO - 27 June 2018: Deputy Communication and Information Technology Minister Khaled el Attar said that the first stage of the Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI) project has been finalized.

The project is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO).

The project is implemented together with the Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), Sofies and Oeko Institute and is supported by the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Environment Ministry.

The announcement was made at a meeting on the conclusion of the first stage of SRI project. The meeting was attended by the director of the Swiss Office for International Cooperation, on behalf of the Swiss ambassador in Cairo, CEDARE Regional Program Manager Hossam Allam and CEO Sofies International David Rochat.

Speaking at the meeting, Attar described the first stage of SRI project as a strong start to e-waste recycling, adding that it helps enhance the capabilities of small and medium-scale enterprises to tap markets as per international standards.

On March 10, 2016, the embassy of Switzerland signed an agreement with Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology titled "Sustainable Recycling Industries in Egypt".

SRI project aims at supporting sustainable integration and participation of small and medium enterprises in recycling of electronic waste in Egypt.

Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, is one of the fast-growing types of waste worldwide which includes discarded electrical or electronic equipment such as old televisions, computers, printers, mobile phones and batteries.

The agreement has three goals: to contribute to the promotion of policies and standards for the sustainable management of secondary resources; to build local capacity for sustainable recycling industries and to provide cities across Egypt with access to experiences developed in other countries under the project.

The Swiss-Egyptian two-year agreement is valued at 1.17 million Swiss francs and is expected to contribute to the Green Information and Communication Technology national strategy of Egypt; the basis for e-waste related initiatives in Egypt.