Minister of Local Development Manal Awad met today with Malaysian Minister of Housing and Local Government Nga Kor Ming and Kuala Lumpur’s governor Maymona Hafez on the sidelines of the World Urban Forum hosted in Cairo from November 4-8, Invest-Gate reports.

Awad welcomed the Malaysian delegation, expressing enthusiasm for exchanging expertise in urban development and learning from Malaysia’s model in this field. Minister Nga Kor Ming congratulated Egypt on organizing a highly successful forum, describing it as one of the best in the event’s history.

Minister Nga also thanked Egypt for its warm hospitality and noted Malaysia’s eagerness to strengthen strategic partnerships with Egypt. He highlighted Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s anticipated visit to Cairo later this month, underscoring the countries’ commitment to cooperation.

The meeting delved into potential collaboration areas, such as city-to-city partnerships between Egyptian and Malaysian municipalities, expertise sharing in urban development, digital cities, and smart city initiatives. The Malaysian delegation expressed interest in supporting Egypt’s sustainable development goals and localizing urban solutions.

Minister Nga presented the case study of Georgetown, Malaysia, a historic city that successfully integrated digital transformation while preserving its heritage. Discussions also explored joint support for heritage and craft industries, particularly through Egypt’s “Ayady Misr” platform, which aims to create job opportunities for women, youth, and local artisans. Additional areas of collaboration include solid waste management, eco-friendly transportation, and other citizen-focused services.