Egypt’s Minister of Local Development, Dr. Manal Awad, confirmed that in its latest report, the World Bank highlighted the significant successes achieved by the Local Development Program in Upper Egypt, commending its role in boosting economic development and improving the quality of life for citizens in the targeted governorates.
Fostering Local Development through Innovation and Inclusion
The program aims to create a supportive environment for business activities, enhance infrastructure services and facilities, and strengthen the capacities of local administrations and governance. In this regard, the government launched a pilot program targeting Upper Egypt to enable its governorates to enhance their capabilities, reinforce accountability, and involve citizens, businesses, and local enterprises in the decision-making process.
The Minister further noted that the program aims to improve the business environment, enhance infrastructure, and empower governorates to develop their capabilities, while engaging citizens in the local economic development process. Additionally, the program aligns with the presidential initiative “Haya Karima” (Decent Life), which targets improving living conditions for the most needy rural communities. Both initiatives aim to reach the most impoverished areas, ensuring a coordinated and comprehensive approach to local development, economic inclusion, and sustainable growth.
Global Recognition of Egypt’s Local Development Model
Dr. Awad highlighted that the World Bank has praised Egypt’s experience in implementing the Local Development Program in Upper Egypt, considering it a model that could be replicated in other regions within Egypt and beyond. She reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding the program’s reach, contributing to achieving the country’s vision for sustainable development, enhancing governorates’ capabilities, and improving the living standards of citizens in Upper Egypt.
8 Million Citizens Benefit from Improved Services and Infrastructure
The World Bank’s report indicated that more than 8 million citizens have benefited from improved services, enhanced infrastructure, and the expansion of vital services. The program has contributed to local economic development by empowering local companies and enterprises to grow. The program also focuses on strengthening the capacities of local governance institutions to improve and expand infrastructure services and ensure high-quality service delivery. The report further highlighted that the program promotes inclusivity by designing activities that meet the needs of villages and local communities. Continuous consultations and engagement with citizens and businesses have helped to identify priorities and address challenges, enabling governorates to better assess and address their needs.
Supporting Local Economic Clusters and Promoting Market Access
The report also emphasized the program’s focus on enhancing the competitiveness and development of local economic clusters, which is one of its key initiatives. Through this, the program has assisted local businesses and enterprises in accessing new markets, overcoming growth barriers, modernizing production methods, and increasing operational and marketing capacities. As of now, 6,397 companies and enterprises, including 1,568 women, have benefited from these initiatives, creating 2,032 new job opportunities.
Improving Government Service Efficiency
The Local Development Program in Upper Egypt has also supported the modernization and efficiency of government service centers at the local, district, and village levels. It has helped streamline procedures, reducing the time needed to issue licenses for commercial establishments and building permits. This has had a positive impact on the investment climate in these governorates, where efficient government services are crucial for helping entrepreneurs establish businesses and overcome bureaucratic hurdles.
Economic Development Impact: Supporting Over 50,000 Companies and Creating Job Opportunities
Dr. Awad further explained that the Local Development Program in Upper Egypt has had a positive impact on both the economy and residents of the region. It has supported more than 50,000 companies and enterprises, creating thousands of new job opportunities and empowering entrepreneurs to develop their projects. More than 80% of residents and businesses in the governorates of Qena and Sohag expressed satisfaction with the quality of these activities. The program has successfully provided integrated developmental guidance to support the private sector, including the preparation and development of initiatives aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of local economic clusters, thus increasing productivity and improving performance for a specific group of companies and enterprises in targeted sectors. These practices, which have been piloted in Upper Egypt, are now being gradually replicated in other regions across Egypt.
The Local Development Program in Upper Egypt stands as a testament to the Egyptian government’s commitment to driving inclusive and sustainable development, and its successful implementation has garnered global recognition as a model for other regions to follow.
