Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf met with Egyptian scientist Farouk al-Baz on Sunday to discuss the “Corridor of Progress” project, according to a cabinet source. A source in the Egyptian Cabinet said they discussed ways to execute the $24 billion project that will develop Egypt's Western Desert. Al-Baz announced that the project would protect agricultural lands, develop new high-population areas, prepare desert areas for reclamation in the western Delta, and provide job opportunities for Egyptian youth in agriculture, trade and contracting. He added that the project would open the door to develop new tourist sites in the Western Desert, and expand the road network to ease traffic congestion.