CAIRO, April 3, 2018 - The government is keen on communicating with all development partners in Egypt, especially the business community, Minister of Local Development Abu Bakr el-Guindi said on Tuesday. Minister el-Guindi stressed the importance of his Ministry's role in supporting integrated local development through various axes. He also highlighted key role of businessmen in supporting the development process. The Ministry provides public services and establishes economic, social and environmental projects and programmes in response to the needs and demands of citizens with the aim of achieving sustainable development nationwide, Minister el-Guindi noted. In a meeting held with the members of the Egyptian Businessmen Association entitled "the Role of the Ministry of Local Development in Supporting the Integrated Development", Minister el-Guindi affirmed the importance of the role of the private sector in the development process. He said that the local administration law grants great powers to the local councils. All local administration personnel will be given training courses to hone their skills and capabilities so as to form an effective and strong administration capable of offering better services to citizens with high efficiency and to create a second line of young cadres in the local administration, Minister el-Guindi said. He added that, during the current year, the automation of the services will be expanded in co-operation and coordination with the Ministry of Planning. "The Ministry is in charge of offering some services to citizens in the governorates such as electricity and roads," Minister el-Guindi said, adding that the Ministry's website will be updated soon to provide all necessary information and data concerning local development process. The Ministry has an integrated plan for expanding the Mashrou'k (Your Project) initiative during the current year, Minister el-Guindi said. About 85,000 projects worth LE5 billion were financed throughout the governorates.
