Egypt's Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said has revealed that 509 projects in 8 sectors, worth a total of EGP 7.3bn, have been completed in Beni Suef. The projects covered: education; health; irrigation; local development; housing; transportation; petroleum; and electricity. El-Said remarks came as she highlighted the citizen follow-up report for the governorates, which includes an inventory of the projects that have been fully completed during fiscal year (FY) 2018/19 and FY 2019/20. She noted that the report also linked them to the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) which Egypt is applying. The minister said that the report's third issue included an index of the completed projects in Beni Suef Governorate. Concerning the state's efforts to achieve SDG 2, on eliminating hunger, provide food security, improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, the report indicated the completion of 19 projects in the water resources and irrigation sector. The projects cost a total of EGP 237m and included the establishment of two irrigation stations in the governorate. On SDG 3, to ensure a healthy life and promoting well-being for all ages, the report indicated three health units were developed in the Beni Suef Governorate villages of Fazara, Ezbet Khalil Nusrat, and Kom al-Ahmar. Their completion came at a cost of about EGP 13.4m. A total of 57 projects in the pre-university education sector have been implemented across the governorate as part of SDG 4, to ensure a quality education that is equitable and inclusive. This also aims to promote learning opportunities throughout life for all. These projects cost a total of EGP 332m and resulted in the creation, replacement, and expansion of 779 classrooms. This came in addition to the completion of the Technological University in Beni Suef, with investments worth EGP 135m. SDG 6, ensuring the availability of drinking water and sanitation for all and managing it sustainably, saw the implementation of 11 drinking water and sanitation projects, worth EGP 995m. This included a water treatment plant with a capacity of 23,000 cubic metres per day (m3/day) to serve the villages of the Sumasta Center, and the expansion of the Ihnasia treatment plant, with a capacity of 10,000-15000 m3/day among other such projects. This took place in addition to developing networks of social housing facilities in New Beni Suef, and the replacement and renewal of 8 km of water networks. Regarding the progress made in achieving SDG 7, on ensuring universal access to modern, regular, and sustainable energy services at an affordable cost, a total of nine projects in the electricity and renewable energy sector were completed. This took place at a total cost of EGP 1.6bn and covered the Beni Suef Industrial Transformer Station and the expansion of the transformer stations at Al-Kuraimat and Ahnasia. Also part of these improvements was the development of the 88 km-long East Beni Suef Line/Zafarana 2, in addition to the completion of the 65 km Al-Wasta Center natural gas line. Furthermore, 151 projects as part of the local development programmes for electricity and lighting, were completed, for a total of EGP 106m. This has resulted in: the installation and maintenance of 1,700 lighting poles; the installation and upgrade of 50 transformers and electricity kiosks; the lighting of 62.8 km of roads; and the provision of 107,000 pieces of equipment. A total of 96 projects took place as part of the SDG 9, on establishing a resilient infrastructure, stimulating inclusive sustainable industrialisation, and encouraging innovation. These projects included paving roads, bridges, and tunnels, and cost a total of EGP 2.8bn. This resulted in the construction of the 7km Adly Mansour axis on the River Nile, the construction of six bridges, and the paving of 150km of roads and streets. A total of 71 projects were implemented associated with SDG 11, relating to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. At a total cost of EGP 315m, they cover security, traffic and firefighting, and supporting the needs of local units. These projects included the establishment, development, and equipping of 68 local unit buildings, the establishment of two technology centres. In addition to this, there was the establishment and development of 11 firefighting units and three traffic units, alongside the provision of 6,700 civil protection and traffic tasks and equipment. Regarding the 13 SDG, on taking urgent measures to combat climate change and its impacts, 88 projects worth EGP 91.2m were implemented to improve the environment. This resulted in covering and covering canals of 2.7 km long, providing 132 garbage bins and rubbish containers, as well as the establishment of 28 areas for the extraction and collection of groundwater.
