Egyptian parliament’s Housing Committee approved on March 2 presidential decree no. 43 of 2019 for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) loan to improve rural sanitation services, Invest-Gate reports.

Under the program, which is co-financed by the World Bank, AIIB will fund the physical infrastructure present in some areas to provide sanitation services across five governorates, including Dakahlia, Sharqia, Damietta, Monufia, and Gharbia Governorates, according to a released statement.

The agreement comprises the construction of new wastewater treatment plants, as well as, the rehabilitation of existing plants, in addition to the upgrade and construction of pumping stations. It will also incorporate the construction of integrated sewerage networks consisting of collectors and pumping mains, ensuring services for locals of “satellite” areas located between villages that the main sewers will pass through.

After the committee’s approval, the agreement was submitted to the Egyptian parliament for final approval, the statement added.

In late December 2018, the AIIB’s board of directors approved its first sovereign loan worth USD 300 mn to the Egyptian government to improve rural sanitation services for 892,000 people inhabiting in 178,000 rural households across selected governorates.