The activities of the National Conference for the 3rd Round of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects concluded last evening, under the patronage and presence of Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister. The Prime Minister and Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation, honored 18 winning projects in various categories of the initiative. The governors of New Valley, Menoufia, and Gharbia were also honored for their participation in the "Green Village" initiative.
The event was attended by Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Special Envoy for Financing the Sustainable Development Agenda, Ms. Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Mr. Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt, and a number of officials from national entities, development partners, and representatives of the winning companies in the initiative.
During the conference, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation reviewed the national efforts to promote development and the transition to a green economy, particularly since Egypt's presidency of COP27.
Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted Egypt's active role in amplifying the voice of developing and emerging countries in all international forums, calling for the importance of establishing the concept of just and equitable financing. She explained that the government has launched numerous national strategies and initiatives of an international nature, as well as practical and innovative solutions to translate commitments into action and bridge development gaps through various financing mechanisms, most notably the "Sharm El-Sheikh Guidebook for Just Financing," which sets out guiding principles for implementing this concept.
Winning Projects
The conference witnessed the honoring of the 18 winning projects in the 3rd round of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects in the governorates across its six categories. In the large-sized projects category, the winning projects were Biofarm for Sustainable Agricultural Investment and Development from New Valley Governorate, the Sustainable Transportation project from Alexandria Governorate, and the project to use excess hydrogen as combustion fuel in steam production boilers instead of natural gas.
In the medium-sized projects category, the winning projects were the Flare Gas Reduction and Thermal Emissions Reduction project at Badr El-Din Petroleum Company fields in Matrouh Governorate, the Tree Forest project in the Qantara East Industrial Zone in Ismailia Governorate, and the Terra Tech Environmental Solutions "Fiberglass Rebar Manufacturing" project from Dakahlia Governorate.
The ministry also announced the winning projects from the governorates in the small-sized local projects (Haya Karima) category, which are the Black Soldiers Fly project from Assiut Governorate, the Spirulina Algae Cultivation and Production (Future Food) project from Port Said Governorate, and the Lost Treasure project from New Valley Governorate.
Regarding the development projects related to women, climate change, and sustainability category, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation announced the winning of the Mangrove Bees project from Red Sea Governorate, the Shrimp Shell Waste Recycling and Women's Livelihood Improvement project in Shakshouk Village from Fayoum Governorate, and the project to use Biofloc technology and Bacillus subtilis bacteria for natural food production and aquaculture water treatment from Damietta Governorate.
In the non-profit community initiatives and participation category, the winning projects were the Smart Green Rehabilitation and Reform Centers project from Minya Governorate, the Hatching and Economic Production of Endangered Sea Cucumber Species project from Suez Governorate, and the 1859 Poinciana Tree Planting Initiative project.
Regarding the projects submitted by startups category, the winning projects in the 3rd round of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects were the Development of a Non-Contact Radar System for Mapping the Electrical Signal of the Heart for Rapid and Accurate Medical Diagnosis Using 77 GHz Millimeter Wave Radar from Damietta Governorate, the Environmental Pollution Reduction and Agricultural Sector Development Using Green Nanotechnology project from Gharbia Governorate, and the Industrial Wastewater Treatment Unit Using Low-Cost and Environmentally Friendly Green Technology project from Qena Governorate.
During the event, Ambassador Hisham Badr, General Coordinator of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, gave a presentation on the key results of the 3rd round of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, the winning projects, the pillars of the initiative, and the key outputs over three years.
It is noted that the number of projects participating in the 3rd round of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects reached about 5,797 projects representing all governorates of the republic. The large-sized projects category had 777 projects, the medium-sized projects category had 1,053 projects, the small-sized local projects category had 683 projects, the startups category had 1,083 projects, the non-profit projects category had 1,150 projects, and the women's projects category had 1,151 projects. The total number of evaluation hours in the third round reached 17,000 evaluation hours.
The event included the screening of a documentary film about the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, its role in promoting development efforts and climate action, and integrating environmental and sustainability standards into development at the governorate level. Recorded speeches were also broadcast by the ministers: Dr. Badr Abdel-Atti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, and Counselor Amal Omar, President of the National Council for Women.
Green Village Initiative
During the event, Major General Dr. Mohamed El-Zamlout, Governor of New Valley, Major General Ashraf El-Gendy, Governor of Gharbia, and Major General Ibrahim Abu Laymoun, Governor of Menoufia, were honored after the villages of "Major General Sobeeh," "Nahtai," and "Shama" in the three governorates won the "Tarshid" certificate, which is one of the top 10 certificates worldwide in terms of compliance with "net-zero emissions" standards, awarded by an independent verification body (the Egyptian Green Building Council, affiliated with the World Green Building Council). It is the first internationally accredited certificate awarded to villages in the Haya Karima initiative that successfully integrate environmental sustainability standards into development efforts, promoting the green transition.
It is worth noting that the "Green Village" initiative was launched to qualify "Haya Karima" villages to comply with the latest global environmental standards of the World Green Building Council and obtain the "Tarshid" certificate for green rural communities, focusing on three main pillars: "Energy, Water, and Resources."
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