The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation has announced that the village of “Shama” in Menoufia Governorate has been awarded the “Tarsheed” certification for Green Rural Communities. This certification is part of the “Green Village” initiative within the national project for the development of rural Egypt, “Hayah Karima,” which aims to upgrade the “Haya Karima” villages to meet the latest global environmental standards set by the World Green Building Council.

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, emphasized the Government of Egypt’s commitment to integrating environmental considerations into developmental plans through various initiatives and programs. These include the Environmental Sustainability Standards Guide, the “Green Village” initiative, and Egypt’s country platform for the “NWFE” program.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat further noted that the “Green Village” initiative serves as a model of successful partnership with civil society organizations and private sector institutions. This aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17, “Partnerships for the Goals.” H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted that the initiative focuses on upgrading one village in each governorate of the first phase to serve as a model to be replicated across other villages in the “Hayah Karima” project, thus reinforcing the localization of the SDGs in rural Egyptian communities.

The “Tarsheed” certification for Green Rural Communities is recognized as one of the top 10 global certifications for its adherence to “net-zero emissions” standards. It is also the first internationally accredited certification awarded to existing, highly needy villages.

Key factors contributing to a village’s qualification for the “Tarsheed” certification include achieving all sustainable development goals, comprehensive service provision, efficient management of drinking water and irrigation, provision of green spaces and public gardens, environmental awareness, energy conservation and emissions reduction, treatment and recycling of wastewater, and waste recycling and economic value creation.

It is noteworthy that 30 developmental projects are currently underway in the village of “Shama” as part of the “Hayah Karima” initiative. These projects include a government services complex, an agricultural services complex, the establishment and development of several schools with 182 classrooms to reduce class density, and ongoing expansion of a wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters per day and a drinking water purification plant with a capacity of 5,000 cubic meters per day.

In a recent extensive meeting with new governors and their deputies, held at the Ministry of Local Development, H.E. Minister Al-Mashat reviewed various initiatives being implemented by the ministry across the governorates of the country. Additionally, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat presented the framework for governance of investment spending for the current fiscal year 2024/2025, which aims to create opportunities for the private sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning and Economic Development – Egypt.

As the universal Church, through The Holy Father, Pope Francis has asked us to do, the Catholic Diocese of Oyo (https://CatholicDioceseOyo.org) today celebrates the gift of all our elderly and grandparents. You are a gift and treasure to us especially in Africa and will always be cherished. I greet you all and pray for you. Joy, fulfillment, good health of mind and body shall be yours till the end. We cherish your wisdom, experience and faith. You are still useful and needed in this troubled nation, the Church, in the family and in the life of your children and grandchildren. please continue to pray and work for peace, family values and love among all. Do not just sit back and watch. Please continue to impart and imbue us with your good counsel, experience, faith stories and generosity. Pray and Persuade your descendants and others never to forget the land of their birth like old Jacob and Joseph did in the Old Testament. Teach them not to forget the Church that raised them in the faith. May God bless you with more fruitful years and may your children and descendants be gracious to you. Amen. Remember that Psalm 92 reads “The upright will flourish like the palm tree, will grow like a cedar of Lebanon. planted in the house of Yahweh, they will flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they will still bear fruit , will remain fresh and green, to proclaim Yahweh’s integrity; my rock, in whom no fault can be found” (Psalm 92: 12-15) So shall it be for you. Happy, joyful celebration from+ bishop Emmanuel Badejo of Oyo Catholic Diocese.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Nigeria.

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Minister of Education and Technical Education Dr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, and Director of the Egyptian Military Academy Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher. The meeting focused on several aspects of training and qualifications related to the educational process, particularly the enhancement and development of teachers’ skills and capabilities, given their fundamental role in the educational system. In this context, the ongoing efforts involving various state agencies to enhance and develop the mechanisms for selecting and preparing educational staff in Egyptian schools were reviewed.

President El-Sisi emphasized that the state gives priority to improving all aspects of the education system, especially the human element, through effective selection and training, both technical and personal, to ensure the highest standards of objectivity, neutrality, and competence, ultimately reflecting on the quality of educational services provided to the Egyptian students in schools.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Egypt’s Governor at the World Bank, during her meeting with the President of the World Bank Group at the G20 meetings in Brazil, stated that the merging of the Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of International Cooperation will enhance the partnership with the World Bank in monitoring the implementation of projects and programs, both in terms of economic sectors and geographical distribution across governorates.

Human development, industry localization, and increasing private sector investments are top priorities for future partnership with the World Bank.

Discussions regarding the continuation of the Development Policy Financing (DPF) program to support structural reforms that stimulate the private sector, in collaboration with development partners.

Diagnostic reports on priority economic sectors are among the key areas of cooperation between Egypt and the World Bank.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) plays a pivotal role in providing innovative financing that enables the private sector to drive development efforts and enhance macroeconomic stability.

World Bank’s reform efforts will impact global financial system restructuring and provide innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms for developing and emerging countries.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and Egypt’s Governor at the World Bank Group, met with Mr. Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, during the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This meeting is the first following her new appointment. The meeting involved discussions on various aspects of the partnership between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the World Bank Group.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership with the World Bank, which is one of the largest multilateral development banks globally. She praised the Bank’s role through concessional financing, technical support, and advisory services in achieving the country’s developmental goals.

The President of the World Bank Group congratulated the Minister on her new roles and affirmed the Bank’s commitment to enhancing partnership with Egypt in alignment with the new government’s priorities for development efforts across various sectors.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat noted that the merger of the Ministries of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation will enhance collaboration with the World Bank Group by improving coordination with different ministries and governmental bodies on programs and projects executed with the Bank, thereby achieving integration and strengthening the management of cooperation across various levels. This will also maximize the developmental impact of projects and programs at both sectoral and geographic levels.

Priorities for the Coming Phase

The Minister discussed the priorities for the upcoming phase of cooperation with the World Bank, which align with the government’s program priorities, including advancing human capital, localizing industry, and encouraging local and foreign investments by focusing on productive and export sectors to enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy and support macroeconomic stability.

The meeting reviewed the joint strategies being implemented between the government and the World Bank in the areas of human development and industry localization, under the 2023-2027 partnership framework. Current activities include assessing the state of foreign direct investment in Egypt and developing the national industry strategy. These studies are crucial for advancing government priorities to attract more foreign direct investment and localize industry across various sectors.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat highlighted the alignment of the strategic partnership areas with the government’s program priorities and Egypt’s Vision 2030, which aims to enhance private sector growth, create job opportunities, and invest in human capital through social protection systems, health, and education, while supporting resilience through innovative solutions in climate action.

 *Structural Reforms and Empowering the Private Sector*

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat commended the partnership with the World Bank in implementing the Development Policy Financing (DPF) program, which supports the government’s efforts in executing structural reforms that stimulate the private sector.

The World Bank approved the first tranche of the program amounting to $700 million in June, in collaboration with other development partners, including the European Union. This program focuses on building fiscal resilience, enhancing economic competitiveness, improving the business environment, and supporting green transformation.

The meeting also discussed the next phase of the DPF program, emphasizing the government’s commitment to continuing structural reforms that facilitate private sector involvement and integrating with development partners in executing the matrix of structural reforms.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat noted the importance of diagnostic and analytical reports as key areas of cooperation between Egypt and the World Bank to provide clear economic insights and current situation analysis. This includes the Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), the Egypt Systematic Country Diagnostic (SCD), the 2020 Private Sector Diagnostic Report for Egypt, and the 2022 Public Expenditure Review for Human Development Sectors in Egypt. The World Bank also launched a demographic report in collaboration with the Egyptian government in 2022.

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

The meeting also discussed cooperation mechanisms between the government and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to provide concessional financing and technical support exceeding $9 billion across various developmental sectors, making Egypt one of the largest operations countries for IFC.

The Minister highlighted IFC’s active role in financing private sector projects in energy under the “NUCA” program, as well as its partnership with the Sovereign Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to enhance private sector participation in the desalination program in Egypt.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat affirmed the importance of IFC’s role in providing innovative financing that enables the private sector to play a larger role in development efforts, enhancing the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy.

Furthermore, the meeting addressed the goals of the G20 Development Ministerial meetings and the group’s efforts to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development goals, including the launch of the global alliance against hunger and poverty, which the World Bank has announced its participation in, along with several other international institutions.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat confirmed that the World Bank’s development efforts would impact the reform of the global financial structure and provide innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms for developing and emerging countries.

In March, the World Bank Group announced its intention to provide $6 billion in financing over the next three years, with $3 billion allocated to support the government’s economic reform program and $3 billion to empower the private sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning and Economic Development – Egypt.