Minister of International Cooperation Sahar Nasr met on Sunday with Stephanie La Frenchie, head of the French Development Agency's (FDA) bureau in Cairo, and Mohamed Bouabdallah, French Cooperation and Cultural Activity Consultant, in order to look into developmental projects in cooperation with France, according to the priorities of the Egyptian government at the present time. The parties looked into the future vision of Egyptian-French cooperation in development, and discussed new projects to partner in during the upcoming period, including a project to establish a wind plant in the Suez Gulf, the development of El-Raml tramway, and the treatment of the sludge from the Eastern sewage plant in Alexandria. FDA regional head for the Mediterranean and Middle East, Marie-Ellen, is expected to visit Cairo for a celebration on the occasion of 75 years since the agency's establishment. So far, the agency has contributed to financing a number of major projects, most prominently the second and third phases of the Cairo Metro's third line. The FDA has also financed small-sized enterprises and microenterprises, delivered natural gas to homes, supported small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the sector of agriculture, in addition to enhancing drinking water and sewage services in the first and second phases of these projects. France has established several vital projects in several fields, including the establishment of the three metro lines, the establishment of an information system in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, work in electricity power plants, the establishment and expansion of phone centres in several governorates, the expansion of drinking water and sewage plants, in addition to the development of the aerial surveillance system. Nasr also met with the Swiss ambassador in Cairo, Markus Leitner, to discuss ways of cooperation and coordination between the two countries over the upcoming period. The minister has expressed the desire of the Egyptian side to pay special attention to issues that leave a positive impact on citizens in need. These issues include a school lunch programme, and technical education, in addition to merging young people into the economic climate to reduce unemployment rates. Present parties also discussed the enhancement programmes and cooperation in landmine clearance operations on the northwest coast. The Swiss side welcomed cooperation in all fields, and opinions were exchanged on how to enhance means of cooperation.
