Wednesday 22 Jan
Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouly held a meeting Sunday evening to discuss proposals and strategies for developing an integrated vision for Khedivial Cairo. This includes establishing a dedicated entity to effectively manage, operate, and maximize the potential of Khedivial Cairo following its revival.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development; Engineer Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities; Dr. Ibrahim Saber, Governor of Cairo; Engineer Khaled Seddiq, Chairman of the Urban Development Fund; Dr. Abdel Khaleq Ibrahim, Assistant Minister of Housing for Technical Affairs; Dr. Baher El-Shaarawy, Vice Chairman of the Fund; Engineer Moustafa Abdel Wahab, Vice Chairman of the Fund; and Dr. Gamal Moustafa, Head of the Islamic, Coptic, and Jewish Antiquities Sector.
With the relocation of government ministries to the New Administrative Capital, there's a unique opportunity to revitalize Cairo's Khedivial Quarter. The Prime Minister emphasized the critical need for this revival, stressing that other countries have successfully revitalized historic districts by establishing independent entities to manage them. He proposed a similar approach for Cairo's Khedivial Quarter, believing it's essential for the city's cultural and economic future.
Madbouly tasked a working group,
headed by the Head of the Prime Minister's Advisory Body, to study this
proposal and develop implementation mechanisms.
Engineer Sherif El-Sherbiny
presented a roadmap for developing a strategic vision for the Khedivial
Quarter, including establishing an institutional framework for asset
management. He highlighted the proposed idea of creating an administrative
entity to attract investment. The minister reviewed international experiences
in managing central districts and cities and outlined the proposed elements for
managing Cairo's Khedivial Quarter, including the legal framework,
organizational structure, investment aspects, and implementation steps.
Dr. Abdel Khaleq Ibrahim presented a comprehensive overview of the Cairo Khedivate project's progress, focusing on revitalizing the area's architectural and urban identity. This includes enhancing the facades of buildings and commercial establishments across numerous squares and streets.
The Cairo Governor presented a
detailed report outlining the comprehensive vision for the revival and
utilization of the Cairo Khedivate area. He highlighted the proposed works for
the third and fourth phases of the revitalization project, while also providing
an overview of the completed first and second phases, ensuring compliance with
the National Coordination Authority for Urban Harmony's requirements.
Khaled Saddiq reviewed the current
status of projects aimed at reviving historic Cairo. This encompassed a review
of ongoing works, an assessment of construction activities on vacant and
dilapidated lands to revitalize the urban fabric, and an evaluation of efforts
to revive old squares and agencies.
He also presented a series of
images showcasing the progress of various projects aimed at reviving historic
Cairo. Notably, he highlighted the implementation status of the Handicrafts
Complex project, the revitalization efforts in the Hussein area, and the
progress of the Rawda al-Sayyida 2 project.
At the meeting's conclusion, the Prime Minister instructed the working group to complete all necessary tasks within a one-month timeframe to facilitate the prompt commencement of implementation.
