Egypt's Minister of Planning Hala El-Saeed has allocated a sum of 7 billion Egyptian pounds part of the 2019/2020 state budget to upgrade the most needy villages. A programme targeting the neediest villages' development gaps during 2019/2020 fiscal years serves the poorest villages in Assiut, Sohag, Minya, Qena, Luxor, Giza, Aswan, adding that the programme costs some 7 billion pounds. The programme aims at boosting sustainable local development and generating more job opportunities via improving local infrastructure and the work environment. Meanwhile, Saeed said that Egypt is making headway in carrying out the development plan, adding that 13 billion pounds during 2018-2019 FY were directed to investments in the Upper Egyptian governorates, whereas 158 villages with 2.5 million population have been benefited.