The Deputy Minister of Housing meets with officials of the German Construction Bank to discuss the status of current projects and ways of future cooperation
Dr. Sayed Ismail, Deputy Minister of Housing for Infrastructure Affairs, held a meeting with Dr. Bernd Siegfried, Director of the German Construction Bank Office in Cairo, and Mr. Enrico Spiller, Director of the Bank’s Portfolio for the Water and Waste Management Sectors, and representatives of the German Construction Bank, in the presence of representatives of the Project Management Unit at the Ministry Housing PMU, to discuss the position of projects currently being funded by the bank and how to implement projects with the highest possible efficiency, especially increasing coverage of water and sanitation services in rural villages through the presidential initiative, a decent life, as well as discussing ways of cooperation in the field of drinking water and sanitation, and developing a vision for future opportunities. for cooperation between the two sides.
During the meeting, Dr. Sayed Ismail reviewed the institutional structure of the drinking water and sanitation facilities sector, the sector’s policy and strategy, coverage rates for drinking water and sanitation services nationwide, the ministry’s efforts to increase coverage rates of sanitation services in rural areas, and improve operational systems and performance of service providers. service, and strengthening the framework of the utilities sector in the ministry, explaining that one of the most important priorities of the utilities sector at present is to participate in the implementation of the projects of the presidential initiative “A Decent Life” to develop the Egyptian countryside, as well as the implementation of the Egyptian state’s ownership document, which included that seawater desalination and sludge management projects are among the planned projects. It has the state’s exit from it, which reflects the state’s tendency to the importance of partnership with the private sector.
Dr. Sayed Ismail discussed with representatives of the bank aspects of future cooperation in the fields of water desalination and various modern technologies for desalination using non-conventional renewable energy such as solar energy, in line with the green economy transformation approach. He also discussed sludge management projects and biogas production, which are considered a source of green energy. By reducing greenhouse gases, directing the need to increase research studies and develop projects in this field to rationalize energy consumption.
The Deputy Minister of Housing for Infrastructure emphasized the importance of training and capacity building for workers in the sector according to the latest systems used in developed countries by keeping abreast of the latest technologies and methods used in the implementation, operation, maintenance and management of seawater desalination plants and sludge treatment and reuse projects.
Dr. Sayed Ismail indicated that the state is working to make the best use of every drop of water, and reuse the treated water for the purposes designated for that, in accordance with the Egyptian code for water reuse, as bank representatives offered cooperation opportunities that allow the transfer and exchange of experiences and participation in the ambitious plan of the Egyptian state, especially in Sludge management.
At the end of the meeting, representatives of the German Construction Bank praised the remarkable transformation in the drinking water and sanitation facilities sector. They also expressed their willingness to present their experiences and studies in many areas that contribute to the sustainability of projects in light of the challenges of water scarcity.
It is worth noting that the bank is currently contributing to financing the program for improving drinking water and sanitation services, the first phase, which serves 79 villages in the governorates of Damietta, Beheira, Gharbia, and Sharqia, which is about to end, in addition to the program for improving drinking water and sanitation services, “phase two”, which It will serve villages in the governorates of Minya, Assiut, Sohag, and Qena.
