India launched its Smart Cities Mission five to eight years ago with the goal of developing 100 smart cities under an initial budget of around $60 billion, Indian Ambassador to Cairo Suresh K. Reddy said on Sunday. Speaking at the tenth edition of the Builders of Egypt Forum, Reddy added cooperation between the public and private sectors is essential to support urban development. He also stressed the need for collaborative efforts between governments and private entities in countries facing similar challenges. The ambassador noted that Egypt's population currently stands between 110 and 115 million, with projections estimating it could double to 225 million within 40 years. India, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, faces similar demographic and environmental challenges in major coastal cities such as Mumbai and Chennai. Reddy expressed India's willingness to deepen cooperation with Egypt in the field of smart urban development, particularly in transforming coastal areas. The ambassador invited an Egyptian delegation led by the housing minister to visit India to explore smart city models and expand cooperation. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
