LE 6.8B allocated to development of Sinai Peninsula in FY 2020/2021 plan

CAIRO - 5 November 2020: Egypt’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development has announced the features of the “Citizen Investment Plan” for North Sinai for fiscal year (FY) 2020/21. 

The announcement comes as part of its nationwide launch for the second year in a row, to activate community participation and involve citizens in planning and follow-up across the country.

Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, said that the Egypt-wide roll out of the citizen plan aims to achieve four main objectives. These include: the localisation of sustainable development goals; spreading the culture of programmes and performance; enhancing transparency and accountability; and activating community participation.

El-Said added that the citizen plan includes a detailed presentation of all development indicators and projects that are being implemented in each governorate separately. This will enable the citizen to follow up on the implementation of these projects, whether they are being implemented in his governorate or his city and his village.

The minister said that the funds included in the FY 2020/21 plan for the development of the Sinai Peninsula amount to LE 6.8 billion. The finance will be used to create an economic, social, and security boom, and provide housing services and public facilities for citizens in the North and South Sinai governorates.

On the citizen's investment plan in the North Sinai Governorate, El-Said explained that the number of development projects in the governorate now stands at 170 projects. The value of public investments directed to the governorate in the FY 2020/21 plan stands at LE 4.58 billion, an increase of 58.5 percent over the FY 2019/20 plan. It also represents 1.8 percent of the public investments distributed nationwide, indicating a growth rate of 45.8 percent in the investments financed by the public treasury and directed to the governorate.

About the sectorial distribution of public investments targeted in North Sinai as part of the FY 2020/21 plan, El-Said said that LE 1.81 billion, or 39.6 percent of the funds, will be directed to the housing sector and the development of informal settlements. The irrigation sector will receive LE 565.6 million, or 12.4 percent, in addition to of the electricity sector receiving LE 400 million, or 8.7 percent of the funds. The local development sector will receive LE 286.6 million, or 6.3 percent, and the higher education sector will receive LE 250 million, or 5.5 percent.

Gamil Helmy, Assistant Minister of Planning and Economic Development for Monitoring, said that there are several important development goals in the housing, utilities, and urban communities sector in North Sinai. This includes directing about LE 646.7 million to drinking water and sanitation services, as well as LE 200 million to develop informal areas. A further LE 66.5 million will be directed to the National Social Housing Program.

As for the North Sinai Governorate’s local development targets under the FY 2020/21 plan, Helmy said that it LE 87.2 million will be given to paving of local roads, in addition to directing LE 142.9 million to services to improve the environment and provide for the needs of local units. This comes in addition to directing LE 55.51 million to strengthen the electricity networks in the governorate.

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development launched the nationwide "Citizen Plan for FY 20/2021" for the second consecutive year. The plan aims to increase awareness among citizens in order that they get acquainted with the directions of the sustainable development plan adopted by the state.