The Minister of Housing discusses several joint work files with the Director of the Future of Egypt for Sustainable Development Agency
Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, Randa El-Menshawy, received Dr. Bahaa El-Ghannam, Executive Director of the Future of Egypt for Sustainable Development Authority, to discuss several joint projects. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Walid Abbas, Deputy Minister for Urban Communities, Eng. Ahmed Omran, Deputy Minister for Utilities, and other ministry officials.
Minister El-Menshawy began the meeting by emphasizing the Ministry of Housing's commitment to collaborating with the Future of Egypt for Sustainable Development Authority on a number of shared initiatives. She noted that the Egyptian state is making rapid strides towards achieving comprehensive and integrated development, and that the success of major national projects requires continuous coordination among various state entities.
The Minister of Housing commended this collaborative effort, which aligns with the state's aspirations and plans for sustainable urban development, particularly the partnership with Madinat Misr (Cities of Egypt), a subsidiary of the Future of Egypt Authority, which provides management, maintenance, and operation services for utilities in new cities, utilizing the latest technologies.
Engineer Randa El-Menshawy added that having a reliable company for such tasks, which include maintenance and operation, is the first step towards achieving more in asset management. This includes overseeing and monitoring cleaning operations in new cities through modern methodologies and specific standards for follow-up, ensuring sustainability and quality.
For his part, Dr. Bahaa El-Ghannam, Executive Director of the Future of Egypt Authority, emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of the Egypt Cities Company as a model of institutional integration between the Future of Egypt Authority and the Ministry of Housing. This is achieved through its pivotal role in providing management, operation, and maintenance services for buildings, urban communities, and infrastructure facilities. The aim is to maximize the efficiency of operating and maintaining public assets, thereby contributing to reducing operating costs in the long term, ensuring the sustainability of facilities, and providing advanced urban services that enhance the quality of life in new cities.
Dr. Bahaa El-Ghannam indicated that the meeting with the Minister of Housing, Engineer Randa El-Menshawy, addressed the study of economic opportunities in the areas surrounding tertiary wastewater treatment plants. This would be achieved by expanding the cultivation of crops compatible with the nature of this water, thus maximizing economic returns and promoting the rational use of water resources. The meeting also discussed the development of a comprehensive urban beautification plan for new cities, including increasing green spaces, reflecting the state's vision of building modern, sustainable cities that provide an integrated urban environment for citizens.
The meeting also addressed the progress of work by the Madinat Misr Company in several new cities, focusing on the maintenance and operation of facilities. The company's efforts in operating and maintaining facilities were reviewed, aiming to enhance the concept of environmental and operational sustainability across all components, implement smart systems and digital transformation in the management of public facilities and services, and improve facility efficiency.
Furthermore, the meeting discussed the status of the cleanliness system in the new cities, maintenance of landscaping along roads and main thoroughfares, maintenance of all lighting elements, and addressing encroachments on roads. Proposals for establishing retail outlets in the new cities were also discussed.