Egypt and Italy on Thursday signed a deal worth 70.5 million Egyptian pounds ($4.3 million) to implement the third phase of a solid waste recycling programme in Upper Egyptian governorate of Minya. The fund will be used to provide technical assistance and raise awareness on the best methods in solid wastes recycling, and establishing a new recycling station. Egypt's Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr said that the agreement is under the umbrella of the Egyptian-Italian programme of loan exchange for development, with a total value of €300 million. She also asserted that Egypt abides by the developmental outline agreements signed with international fund partners. Egypt's Environment Minister Yasmin Fouad has said that the new waste recycling system includes several stages: preparing the necessary infrastructure, establishing intermediate stations and building recycling factories. Italian Ambassador in Egypt Giampaolo Cantini said that the joint loan exchange programme focuses on achieving sustainable development and stimulating economic growth in Egypt. "The agreement is part of a programme that is one of the best developmental programmes the Italian government is currently implementing. The first and the second phases of this programme succeeded in recycling 300 tonnes of waste per day, and the recycling station which will be established according to the new agreement will raise the recycling capacity up to 500 tonnes per day, which would definitely improve Egypt's environment in line with the country's economic reform programme," he said. At the same time, manager of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt Randa Abo El-Hassan said that Egypt has taken significant steps in environment protection in cooperation with the UNDP, adding that the new agreement is a continuation of this fruitful cooperation. Source: Ahram Online
