Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities Assem El Gazzar has met with representatives of the African Development Bank (AfDB) to review work done at two sanitation projects underway in west Cairo, which the bank funds with a total value of USD 150.6 mn, Invest-Gate reports.

Undertaken in cooperation between AfDB and the housing ministry, work at Abu Rawash Wastewater Treatment Plant in Egypt is proceeding at an implementation rate of 11%, with funds worth USD 150 mn, according to a ministerial statement on June 10.

During the meeting, El Gazzar also discussed the feasibility study of Green Abu Rawash Sludge Facility Project, which AfDB finances with not more than USD 600,000, the statement confirmed, noting that bidding documents were signed back in March and the procedures are being finalized.

Meanwhile, representatives of AfDB expressed the bank’s readiness to cooperate with the Egyptian housing ministry in supporting the participation of the country’s private sector in the implementation of potable water and sanitation projects.

In addition, the bank is keen on being part of the National Program for Sanitation of Egyptian Villages (PMU), starting from Luxor, which is currently seeing the finalization of the procedures for the proposed agreement.

In November 2018, AfDB’s President Akinwumi Adesin said the bank has pumped up to USD 2.8 bn into 30 Egyptian-based projects since the country kicked off its economic reform program in 2016, referring to a report by Rand Merchant Bank that ranks the country above its African peers in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI), according to a previous statement by the Egyptian investment ministry.