Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat and Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker discussed on Saturday the projects included in the energy axis of the National Platform for Green Projects and Climate Action and the NWFI programme. The NWFI programme is the link between food, water projects, and energy that aims to mobilise concessional development finance, technical support, and investments by the private sector for a package of priority green development projects within the framework of Egypt's 2050 Comprehensive National Climate Strategy. This comes within the framework of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's directives to provide support for national programmes that promote climate action and to cooperate with development partners on presenting successful national models to build on regionally and internationally and enhance efforts to implement climate pledges and commitments in light of the transition to a green economy. The two ministers discussed the projects within the programme and the steps that have been taken so far, starting with continuous coordination with development partners, launching the programme's national platform with the participation of all multilateral and bilateral development partners, briefing them with the details of the projects, and engaging in discussions with them on cooperation proposals in each of the projects listed in the energy sector. They also stressed the importance of the energy axis within the programme in light of the vision and direction of the Egyptian state's goal to transform the country into a regional energy hub through the implementation of major development projects in the renewable energy sector from all its sources, as well as the expansion of the green hydrogen sector, and the implementation of legislative and structural reforms that attract foreign investment and soft development finances in this vital sector, given that the efforts made since 2014 and the launch of the Sustainable Energy Strategy have contributed to attracting soft development finances and private sector investments and implementing pioneering projects such as the Benban Solar Power Plant and other projects. They also pointed out the importance of the national investment platform for green projects and climate action in pushing the country's efforts to transform into a green economy and implementing the goals of the National Strategy for Climate Change. The strategy's goals include achieving comprehensive and sustainable economic growth and low-emissions development, building resilience and adaptability to changes of climate change, improving governance and management of work in the field of climate change, developing infrastructure to finance climate activities, and promoting scientific research and technology transfer. The ministers also explained that the NWFI programme supports this vision by working in intersecting tracks, whether mobilising soft development funds or granting technical support, which represents a great incentive for private sector participation through its forms.
