Egypt has spent around $60 billion on linking its electricity sector to other countries and continents, extending links into Africa, Asia, and Europe, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has said. In a speech during the G20 Compact with Africa meetings in Berlin on Tuesday, El-Sisi said Egypt currently has a developed power grid with reserves of electric power at 20 percent, having overcome the persistent challenges it was facing. He also spoke about infrastructure, saying that the government has succeeded in building 7,000 kilometres of roads, part of a 9,000 kilometre-road network to connect cities, and will include cross-border roads connecting with neighbouring countries in Africa. He said that the Egyptian model in establishing infrastructure projects does not only offer financial returns, but also contributes in tackling a number of other challenges. He said that a powerful infrastructure for energy supply on the African continent would contribute significantly in combating climate change. The president also touched on a number of other issues. He mentioned illegal migration, an issue often raised by European officials, saying that since a deadly accident in 2016, no individuals have illegally crossed to Europe from Egyptian territory. Cairo increased its focus on this issue and introduced a law on illegal migration following the deadly sinking of a migrant boat off the coast of Egypt that killed 160 people in september 2016. He also tackled the refugee issue, estimating the number of refugees in Egypt at 5 million, and saying they enjoy rights similar to those given to Egyptian citizens. He said terrorism in Syria and Libya has had a huge impact in the region, stressing the necessity of an effective international community effort to face it to avoid worse impacts. El-Sisi said terrorism has had a devastating effect on the region, not only by destroying infrastructure and causing deaths, but also in deterring investors. He presented Egypt's efforts in the field of combating terrorism, stressing that Cairo has defeated terrorism, but has paid a huge price in its efforts to combat the phenomenon.
