Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, held a meeting with a group of investors to discuss opportunities to expand sustainable environmental investment in Egypt's natural reserves and to promote eco-tourism. The meeting was attended by the Head of the Environmental Affairs Agency, several ministerial assistants and advisers, and senior officials from the Nature Conservation Sector at the Ministry. During the meeting, Awad stressed that sustainable investment in natural reserves is a key pillar of the State's current agenda, given its vital role in supporting Egypt's transition toward a green economy, ensuring the prudent use of natural resources, and creating promising investment opportunities that contribute to economic development while preserving the natural environment. She explained that the Ministry adopts a balanced approach that integrates economic development with environmental protection and the promotion of sustainable eco-tourism. This approach focuses on encouraging investment projects that comply with environmental standards, adhere to sustainability principles, and utilise environmentally friendly designs and solutions, thereby enhancing Egypt's competitiveness in green investment. The Minister underscored the importance of establishing an integrated management model for natural reserves and ensuring that proposed projects reflect environmental identity and Egypt's cultural heritage. She noted that such projects should enhance service quality and maximise the added value of economic activities without negatively impacting natural resources. Awad highlighted that Egypt possesses significant natural and cultural assets that qualify it to become a leading destination for sustainable investment at both regional and international levels. Awad further explained that the Ministry places strong emphasis on evaluating all proposed projects from both technical and environmental perspectives. This includes conducting environmental impact assessments, reviewing sustainable management plans, and assessing risk-mitigation mechanisms. All studies are submitted to specialised technical bodies within the Ministry to ensure full compliance with approved environmental requirements and standards before any project approvals are granted. She noted that the Ministry of Environment is working to develop supportive policies and institutional frameworks that encourage sustainable investment, improve the environmental business climate, and introduce modern systems for managing environmentally related activities in cooperation with the private sector. These efforts aim to strengthen Egypt's position as a regional leader in sustainable development and green investment. Awad affirmed that the State welcomes partnerships with the private sector to implement sustainable investment projects within natural reserves, provided there is full compliance with environmental regulations. Such partnerships, she said, are essential to protecting natural resources, achieving sustainable development, and safeguarding the rights of future generations. During the meeting, participating investors presented plans for proposed projects in several natural reserves and submitted the relevant technical and environmental studies. They reaffirmed their full commitment to environmental standards governing projects in protected areas and praised the Ministry's role in promoting eco-tourism through constructive engagement with the private sector.
