CAIRO: A new strategic development plan for Egypt would cost the state some 60 billion EGP (U.S. $10 billion) per year for the next 40 years, according to an official source at the Authority of Urban Planning in the Ministry of Housing. The plan targets development in all regions across Egypt through priority areas, which are identified in the plan. The source told Youm7 that Sinai, el-Alamein, East Port Said, Qattara and the West Gulf of Suez were identified as areas most in need of development. The source said the plan was created by pooling all studies and charts previously created by the commission, especially what was specified in the scheme of Egypt 2050. The plans were modified, priority areas added, and the project was re-named ‘Egypt's 2052 Development Plan.” The first five-year stage will begin next year. The official said the total cost of implementing the scheme will be 3 trillion EGP (U.S. $508 billion). The official emphasized that the urban planning in all the areas identified by the scheme presented to the Council of Ministers represents the first phase of the scheme. The second phase will include planning the rest of the provinces and regions' economic development. The first phase is being presented to stakeholders from the ministries and civil society organizations to be discussed and ratified.
