German institutions offer€ 132.8m to finance 11 projects in Egypt

Egypt’s Ministry of International Cooperation agreed, on Monday, with German government and development institutions to provide € 132.8m in financial contributions and grants to finance 11 new Egyptian projects that will be implemented next year.

The targeted projects are in different fields, including technical and vocational education, employment promotion, supporting the private sector, credit guarantee system, solid waste management, and effective use of water, according to a Monday statement by the Ministry.

New projects also come in the framework of improving drinking water and sanitation management; e- government; administrative reform; enhancing community participation; and integrating youth, women and people with special needs in the national development process and infrastructure development.

The cooperation between the Egyptian and German governments has two parts: the first is the bilateral cooperation agreements, and the second is the debt swap programme valued at a total of € 90m.

Last February, Egypt and Germany signed an executive contract for the Joint Committee for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency through which the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy received € 15.5m in grant.

On 2 November, Egypt and Germany signed an executive contract for the establishment of the Egyptian German Center for Jobs, Immigration, and Reintegration which was funded by the German side with € 2m.

The center aims to contribute to promoting safe and orderly migration opportunities for Egyptian youth and to provide job opportunities to reduce illegal immigration, and to help returnees from Egyptians abroad to integrate into society by providing the necessary social and economic services.

The current cooperation portfolio between Egypt and Germany has recorded € 1.7bn so far in various sectors such as irrigation, sanitation, energy, urban development, small and medium enterprises, environment, education, administrative reform, governance, agriculture, and social protection.