Gamea Hails Co-op with EU, EIB on Launching Development Programs in Egyp

On Thursday, the Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry and Executive Director of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA) Nevine Gamea hailed ongoing cooperation between MSMEDA and international donor agencies mainly, the European Union and European Investment Bank. Gamea said both agencies finance labor-intensive infrastructure and community development projects that are being executed by MSMEDA in the different governorates of Egypt creating thousands of daily jobs for casual workers.

These statements were made on the occasion of a visit paid by EU-EIB delegation to three projects in Alexandria under the Community Development Program Agreement launched in July 2020 in cooperation with Ministry of International Cooperation to be implemented in six governorates: Alexandria, Port Said, Giza, Assiut, Menufia and Sharqia.

The delegation has visited road pavement projects implemented by MSMEDA in Amerya district jointly with Alexandria and bodies engaged thereby creating 11 thousand daily jobs for casual workers.

H.E. Head of European Union Delegation to Egypt Ambassador Christian Berger presided the delegation together with European Investment Bank Regional Representative for the Near East Mr. Alfredo Abad. Deputy-governor Dr. Jackleen Azer received the delegation in the presence of Head of MSMEDA Human and Community Development Central Sector Engineer Khaled Fathy and Manager of MSMEDA Alexandria Branch Office Mr. Mohamed Salah.

Engineer Fathy said under the Agreement, MSMEDA has carried out a number of projects to provide basic services within the six governorates. These include extending potable water and sewage networks, paving roads, renovating schools, health units and youth centers and establishing markets for peddlers.

From July 2014 until end of March 2022, MSMEDA provided 1514 million Egyptian Pounds for Alexandria out of which loans amounted to 1438 million Egyptian Pounds to finance 42 thousand small and micro enterprises and generate 85 thousand jobs. Contracts for grants reached 76 million Egyptian Pounds and were earmarked for infrastructure, community development and training projects with actual disbursements reaching 45.3 million Egyptian Pounds resulting in the creation of 653 thousand daily jobs for the youth in the governorate.