The announcement was made in the presence of Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment Dr. Manal Awad, Cairo Governor Dr. Ibrahim Saber, Giza Governor Engineer Adel El Naggar, Swiss Ambassador to Egypt Andreas Baum, and the World Bank Group's Regional Director for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti, Stephan Tempert. Also attending were heads and representatives of numerous government bodies and development partners.
In his speech, the Housing Minister emphasized that the
announcement marks a new beginning in the path of the New Republic, stating that
smart cities represent a strategic choice to turn urban challenges into
development opportunities, provide a more sustainable and equitable urban
environment, and achieve a balance between economic growth and the protection
of natural resources.
The Minister added that the National Smart Cities Strategy
is based on integration between different sectors to achieve comprehensive
development. He clarified that smart cities are not just a technological
infrastructure, but are fundamentally human-centric cities aiming to improve
the quality of life for citizens through better quality services, easier
mobility, and a healthier, safer environment.
He stressed that the launch of this strategy reflects the
Egyptian state's commitment, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi,
to achieving Egypt's Vision 2030. He called on all development partners from
the public, private, and civil society sectors to actively participate in the
implementation of this ambitious national project, which opens new horizons for
future generations.
The launch ceremony saw broad participation from representatives of national ministries and agencies, including the General Organization for Physical Planning, the New Urban Communities Authority, the Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund, the Central Agency for Reconstruction, the General Authority for Tourism Development, the National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority, the Urban Development Fund, and the Administrative Capital for Urban Development Company. Representatives from major real estate development, telecommunications companies, international organizations, development partners, and donors also attended.