SHARM EL-SHEIKH: The European Commission Delegation Ambassador to Egypt, Klaus Ebermann, is expected to attend a "Grant Contracts Award ceremonial conference today at the Movenpick hotel, Sharm El-Sheikh. Aside from attending the conference, the main purpose of the Ambassador's visit is to follow up on developments in the EU-funded South Sinai Regional Development Program. During his visit Ambassador Ebermann will also be received by General Mohamed Hany Metwally, Governor of South Sinai. The five-year development program, funded solely by the EU to the tune of 64 million euros, aims to develop the local economy, support conservation efforts, as well as support the social, cultural and natural resources of South Sinai. The funding is divided into three categories. The first deals with the development of infrastructure and supporting the local community, directly and indirectly. The second makes funds available for NGOs, SMEs, local authorities and national and international organizations. Lastly, the program allows the Sheikhs of the South Sinai governate to hand out small grants to local Bedouin communities to implement projects in areas such as water, agriculture and livestock. All of the funding in fact is carried out through awarding grant contracts, as the title of the conference suggests, and the program has been hailed by public figures, analysts and locals alike. Professor of economics at the American University in Cairo, Adel Beshai, said projects such as this were "extremely welcome. "Anything that will improve the country's infrastructure is good news, he told The Daily Star Egypt. "We need more and more of this in Sinai, and indeed in the rest of Egypt, he also stated. The program is the first decentralized project to be implemented by a South Sinai governorate, rather than by a government ministry.
