Sunday 09 Mar
A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation, and the German "Hanns Seidel Foundation," visited the village of "Shama" in Menoufia Governorate, to review the progress made in implementing the "Green Village" initiative within the national project for developing the Egyptian countryside, "Decent Life."
This visit comes as part of the follow-up efforts to qualify Shama village to obtain the "Rationalization" certificate for green rural communities, where the delegation inspected a number of projects that contributed to achieving this accomplishment, including the village walkway and youth center, the government services complex and family medicine center, Martyr Sameh Tahoun Primary School, ultrafiltration water station, lining and rehabilitation of canals, solar-powered lighting systems, and workshops for handicrafts to support local industries such as shell, arabesque, pottery, and carpets.
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic
Development and International Cooperation, affirmed that this visit reflects
the Egyptian government's commitment to Vision 2030 achieving sustainable
development goals and integrating the environmental dimension into development
plans, noting that the "Green Village" initiative aims to transform
Egyptian villages into environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable
communities. Hanns Seidel Foundation praised the efforts made in Shama village,
emphasizing the importance of continuous cooperation between the two sides to
achieve the initiative's goals.
Thomas Schama, the Hanns Seidel Foundation's Director in
Egypt, and project coordinators Lucinda Elkhosht and Nardine Naim, praised the
Ministry of Planning's 'Green Village' initiative. The delegation highlighted
the initiative's aim to align 'Decent Life' villages with international
environmental standards and stressed the importance of maximizing environmental
opportunities within these communities.
The visit was attended by Dr. Salah Al-Haggar, President of
the Egyptian Green Building Council, Amira Hossam, Assistant Minister of
Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation for Sustainable
Development Affairs, and Ahmed Reda, Coordinator of the "Green
Village" initiative.
It is worth mentioning that Shama village is one of four Egyptian villages that have obtained the "Rationalization" certificate for green rural communities, which are: Fares in Aswan Governorate (2022), Nahtay in Gharbia Governorate (2023), and Major General Sobeih in New Valley Governorate (2024).
