Egypt’s Ministry of Planning has announced a major boost in public investment for the Upper Egyptian governorate of Assiut, as part of the country’s national “Citizen Investment Plan” for the fiscal year 2024/2025. With EGP 10.2 billion earmarked for 464 development projects, the initiative marks a continued push toward inclusive, regionally balanced economic growth and public service reform.
The Citizen Investment Plan forms part of Egypt’s wider National Economic and Social Development Strategy, and reflects a growing effort by the government to enhance transparency, decentralization, and civic engagement. The newly released plan offers detailed insights into project distribution across key sectors and presents a roadmap for addressing developmental gaps across Egypt’s rural and urban territories.
Empowering Citizens Through Transparent Development Planning
In an official statement, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation, emphasized the significance of the Citizen Investment Plans as instruments of both public transparency and participatory governance.
“These documents are essential tools for raising awareness among citizens about the government’s development priorities,” Al-Mashat said. “They ensure people are informed about the nature, scale, and location of ongoing investments in their governorates—bridging the gap between policymaking and public accountability.”
She further underscored the plans’ alignment with Egypt’s Vision 2030, particularly in promoting sustainable regional development and fostering a more equitable distribution of national resources.
Sectoral Allocation of Investments in Assiut
The 2024/2025 investment framework for Assiut allocates public funds across vital infrastructure and service sectors. Highlights include:
- Housing & Utilities: EGP 2 billion (19%)
- Local Development: EGP 1.9 billion (18.5%)
- Transport & Mobility: EGP 1.3 billion (12.5%)
- Higher Education: EGP 1.1 billion (11%)
- Pre-University Education: EGP 507 million (5%)
- Healthcare Services: EGP 366 million (3.6%)
- Other Sectors: EGP 3 billion (30.4%)
This is in addition to substantial funding allocated under the national “Haya Karima” (Decent Life) initiative, targeting Egypt’s rural heartlands.
Rural Transformation Through “Haya Karima “
Assiut plays a key role in the flagship rural development initiative “Haya Karima”, aimed at eradicating multidimensional poverty and upgrading basic infrastructure. In phase one, the program targets:
- 6 Districts: Including Abnoub, Abutig, Al-Fath, Dairut, Sahel Selim, and Sidfa.
- 150 Villages: Selected based on development indicators.
- 2.4 Million Beneficiaries: Representing a significant portion of the governorate’s population.
Projects under Haya Karima include water and sanitation systems, road upgrades, and health and education infrastructure.
Project Highlights: Building Foundations for Sustainable Growth
The ministry’s report outlined several strategic projects to be implemented across Assiut in the coming year:
- Housing and Utilities: 80 projects with a focus on potable water and sanitation, allocating EGP 1.7 billion.
- Local Development: 269 projects targeting spatial and local development.
- Transport Modernization:
- Upgrading railway signal systems along the Assiut–Nag Hammadi line (181 km).
- Continuing construction of the Dairut Bridge over the Nile.
- Education:
- 23 projects including the completion of the new Technological University in New Assiut.
- Development of 523 new classrooms, and modernization of general education facilities.
- Healthcare:
- 13 key initiatives including:
- Completion of Alwan Addiction Treatment Hospital.
- Upgrades to Sidfa Central Hospital.
- Renovation of outpatient clinics at Assiut Chest Hospital.
- 13 key initiatives including:
Accessibility & Civic Engagement
To reinforce public access and civic participation, the ministry has made the full Citizen Investment Plans available via its official website and the mobile application “Sharek 2030”.
By democratizing access to development information, Egypt is working toward a more transparent, inclusive, and community-driven model of governance.
