Egypt has opened bidding process for implementing EGP 1.9 billion in water projects to provide access to potable water to 192 villages in Minya governorate as part of the second phase of the Decent Life presidential initiative, the housing ministry said. The projects include establishing four new water plants and expanding others across the Upper Egypt governorate, the ministry added in a statement released on Sunday. Minister of Housing Assem El-Gazzar said the move is meant to raise standard of living and upgrade services levels in line with the sustainable development plans set for the Egyptian countryside. Minister El-Gazzar explained that the projects will create direct and indirect jobs for the citizens in these villages, the statement added. The second stage of the initiative, launched in December 2020, targets developing a total of 1,500 villages inhabited by 18 million people. The initiative is focusing on improving the standard of living for citizens and reducing poverty rates through developing infrastructures; and providing basic services, especially in education, housing, electricity, sanitation, drinking water, and natural gas. The first phase of the initiative included 143 villages in 11 governorates. Earlier this month, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi instructed the government to update the database of the Decent Life Initiative in order to allow the authorities to embark on bettering all aspects of the living standards and services offered to Egyptian villagers who constitute around half of the country's population.
