In cooperation with the EU, EIB and Alexandria Governorate

 Monday, December 12th, 2022, Executive Director of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA) Ms. Nevine Gamea stressed MSMEDA's keenness on implementing the State's orientations and plans contributing to the development of unplanned areas in Egypt jointly with local and international partners. Ms. Gamea added the aim is to improve the quality of public services for citizens and creating an enabling environment favorable to the establishment of start-up enterprises and expanding existing ones.

Ms. Gamea statements came on the margin of the inauguration of Nasiriya Market in Ameriya District by Alexandria Governor general Mohamed Taher El Sherief and a delegation representing the European Union (EU), European Investment Bank (EIB) and MSMEDA.
The delegation visited community infrastructure projects in Ameriya District and Nasiriya Market established under the development works in the area including pavement of roads and restoration of sewage networks…
Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt Ambassador Christian Berger presided the EU delegation in the presence of MSMEDA Deputy Executive Director Engineer Tarek Shash together with Head of Human and Community Development Central Sector at MSMEDA Dr. Walid Darwish.
MSMEDA Executive Director said this visit falls within the context of continued cooperation with the EU- a major international partner contributing to the finance of numerous development agreements and programs MSMEDA implements and the European Investment Bank (EIB) – a main partner to MSMEDA as well in launching community development projects.
“Under the Community Development Program Agreement funded by the EU, community infrastructure projects are executed in Alexandria, Port Said, Giza, Assuit, Monufia and Sharqia. Launching of these projects is based on coordination with ministries and governorates engaged to meet the actual requirements of inhabitants and enable them to embark on their private enterprises through providing them with basic services like potable water, adequate sewerage and road pavement,” Ms. Gamea said.
“These projects are launched according to the Labor-intensive method that allows for the generation of employment opportunities for casual workers in these areas,” Ms. Gamea accentuated.
MSMEDA Executive Director explained that implementation of the Project of Nasiriya Market is made according to community meetings with inhabitants and their needs assessment that have altogether confirmed the necessity of establishing the market in this area to save them long transportation to cater for their alimentary needs. She added this Project has created more than 12 thousand temporary jobs man/days for the targeted inhabitants and has similarly led to the development of the existing commercial enterprises in the area.

Alexandria Governor General Mohamed El Sherief praised on-going cooperation with MSMEDA on implementing these international agreements resulting in the generation of thousands of temporary jobs man/days for casual labor and the provision of basic services for the neediest areas. General El Sherief added all community infrastructure projects installed has led to the improvement in the quality of life for the targeted inhabitants pointing out to that development works have taken place through coordination between Alexandria Governorate and MSMEDA to accelerate the governmental orientation towards upgrading unplanned areas.

Meanwhile, Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt Ambassador Christian Berger lauded MSMEDA’s role in monitoring and supervising the implementation of the community infrastructure projects established in Alexandria.
“On-going EU-MSMEDA cooperation urges us to bolster up our joint efforts and contributions to launch more development projects in Egypt,” Ambassador Berger said.
The Delegation has inaugurated Nasiriya Market comprising 100 stores offering different products and services that correspond to the nature of activites residents are initially lacking. The delegation has also been familiarized with development works in place that covered the upgrading of sewerage network and the pavement of such roads that lead to the Market.
The Community Development Program Agreement is funded at 15 million Euros as a grant by the EU under the Investment Neighborhood Facility in addition to 45 million Euros as a loan presented by European Investment Bank (EIB) at preferential rates. The EU grant aims at improving infrastructure and services within local communities and rural areas through hiring local labor. Meanwhile, EIB loans provide new credit services for small and micro enterprises in six governorates (Alexandria, Port Said, Giza, Assuit, Monufia and Sharqia) and furnish infrastructure services to communities in these governorates: extending potable water and sewage networks, paving roads, refurbishing schools, health units and youth centers…