Egypt's Ministry of Local Development signed four cooperation protocols with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union on Wednesday to implement local economic development projects worth 480 million Egyptian pounds. The projects, to be carried out in the governorates of Fayoum, Beni Suef, Luxor and Aswan, aim to boost value chains in agriculture and food industries, improve local markets, and expand investment opportunities, the ministry said in a statement. UNDP and the EU will jointly fund about 120 million pounds of the total, while the ministry will cover the remainder — the first partnership of its kind between the government and international donors, Minister of Local Development Manal Awad said. Projects include the construction of a modern urban market in Luxor, an integrated industrial hub for olive production in Fayoum, a centre for medicinal and aromatic plants in Beni Suef, and a model complex for date processing and agricultural logistics in Aswan. "These projects are part of a national strategy to maximise the use of local resources, create jobs for youth and women, and transform governorates into competitive production hubs," Minister Awad said. Chitose Noguchi, UNDP's resident representative in Egypt, described the initiative as "a successful model of national ownership and co-financing" that will strengthen local economies and benefit communities. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
