AFD Representatives Visit Infrastructure Projects MSMEDA in Cairo

MSMEDA Deputy Executive Director Engineer Tarek Shash said on Tuesday that strengthening cooperation with donor agencies is a major orientation for MSMEDA to achieve its development objectives as for the provision of better services to its target population, creation of an enabling environment to micro and small enterprises and the improvement in the living conditions of targeted groups.

He added that fostering cooperation with donor agencies also aligns with the directives of Minister of Trade and Industry and MSMEDA Executive Director Nevine Gamea on the necessity of constant coordination with donor agencies and continuous follow up on the status of agreements concluded. Engineer Shash further explained that the aim is to secure maximum benefit for the target groups, establish a proper climate for enterprises and generate daily jobs for workers in the different governorates of Egypt.

MSMEDA Deputy Executive Director reiterated that the Unplanned Areas Upgrading and Employment Enhancement Program (UAUEE) that MSMEDA implements jointly with the EU and AFD aims at developing infrastructure in unplanned areas and assisting targeted populations as well in establishing new productive activities.

This came on the occasion of a field visit held by a high-level delegation representing Agence Française de Développement (AFD) accompanied by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA) officials to several projects MSMEDA executing in Ezbet khairallah area in Cairo under the Unplanned Areas Upgrading and Employment Enhancement Program (UAUEE) funded by the European Union through a grant delegated to AFD.

The delegation visited Khairallah Health Centers Improvement Project, the Rising Road Project, Western Entrance and Open Spaces Improvement Projects at El Mahgar Street.

The delegation included AFD Deputy Chief Executive Officer Marie-Hélène Loison, and AFD Regional Director for North Africa Mathieu Vasseur, together with a group of MSMEDA officers led by MSMEDA Head of Central Sector for Human and Community Development Engineer Khaled Fathy.

Fathy said five framework contracts have been signed to execute labor-intensive infrastructure projects to upgrade Ezbet Khairallah and El Zawya El Hamra areas in Cairo at 113.5 million Egyptian Pounds by AFD. He explained that value of implemented works insofar amounted to 107.4 million Egyptian Pounds marking an achievement rate of 95%.

Fathy added these works have created up to 107 thousand daily job opportunities for casual workers within project implementation sites and included road paving, fixing lampposts, developing tunnels and pedestrian bridges, renovating schools, health units, markets and parking areas in addition to establishing stadiums, green areas and open spaces.

During the visit, AFD representatives emphasized the deep-rooted partnership with MSMEDA and appreciated the great cooperation with all engaged organs and entities of the Egyptian government mainly on sustainable development and job-creation efforts.

MSMEDA has been implementing the Unplanned Areas Upgrading and Employment Enhancement Program (UAUEE) since the beginning of 2017. The EU finances this Program through a grant delegated to AFD amounting to 15 million euros.