Under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El=Sisi, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli witnessed, on Thursday 3/11/2022, the opening ceremony of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects Conference.

The conference was attended by the Minister of Planning Hala El-Saeed, Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawi, and President of the National Council for Women Maya Morsy, in addition to Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Climate Change High Level Champion for Egypt and UN Special Envoy on Financing 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and representatives of international organisations, including the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt Elena Panova , along with a host of other senior officials.

The initiative covers six categories of projects: megaprojects; medium projects; small and local projects, especially those related to Decent Life presidential initiative; startups; non-profit social initiatives and development projects related to women, climate change and sustainability.

At the outset of the ceremony, a film was screened reviewing projects participating at the conference under the initiative nationwide.

The UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for Egypt and UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda Mahmoud Mohieldin Mohieldin said the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, comes in light of a global atmosphere that requires providing innovative solutions.

He explained the initiative is one of three important initiatives adopted by the Egyptian presidency and no country has preceded Egypt in this regard, noting that this initiative will be an annual event.

He went on to say the second initiative includes preparing a list of projects from the five regions globally, while the third initiative focuses on supporting Egyptian universities and research centers in innovation and research related to climate action.

Mohieldin said that "In this regard, we thank all Egyptian universities and research centers for supporting the Smart Green Projects initiative".

He said green and smart initiatives are linked to sustainable development in Egypt, praising the Prime Minister's decision to support this initiative annually.

Mohieldin also said Egypt enjoys the ability to compete and respond to global initiatives, such as this one and this is evident in the number of projects submitted.

He said: "At the level of investment, there are great opportunities for the projects presented in the competition to cooperate with the Federation of Industries, the Stock Exchange and international institutions with the aim of opening up broader horizons."

The climate champion stressed that these initiatives provide a dynamic map for investment in Egypt's governorates, as well as an opportunity to increase investment and achieve further development and innovation.

He added that "There is an opportunity to take this initiative from its local framework to international horizons."

For his part, General Coordinator of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects Hisham Badr, said that the initiative contributes to developing smart and unprecedented solutions to climate problems, noting that the initiative is sponsored by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

He added that winning projects will be presented at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) -- set to take place in the Egyptian Red Sea city of Sharm El-Sheikh -- along with one project from each governorate.

According to Badr, 162 projects were selected, with 6 projects from each governorate before being shortlisted to 18 winning projects to be presented at COP27, with each governorate choosing a certain project to be its ambassador.

He explained that clear criteria were set for evaluating projects, and the executive committees in the governorates were adequately trained.

First place winner will be awarded EGP 750,000, the second EGP 500,000, and the third EGP 250,000. This is in addition to the United Nations' support for the 18 projects.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli delivered a speech, in which he expressed thanks to President Sisi for sponsoring the initiative that was announcec in May, as well as to the ministers and governors attending for their contributions to its projects. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli said the large number of projects being carried out nationwide emphasizes that the State is determined to move forward in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The prime minister said the launch of the National Initiative for Green and Smart Projects coincides with Egypt’s hosting of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in exceptional conditions the world has never seen before, sending an important message to all local, regional and international institutions that Egypt indeed adopts as much as possible all sustainability standards for the projects it implements.

He added that the initiative also goes in line with the country’s sustainable development strategy "Egypt Vision 2030" as well as with objectives of Egypt’s National Climate Change Strategy 2050, which establishes the importance of integrating mechanisms for adapting to climate change into relevant development programs and projects implemented by the public and private sectors and civil society,

He noted that 6,281 projects representing all governorates were presented within five months to the jury responsible for the National Initiative for Smart and Green Projects, covering six categories of projects: megaprojects; medium projects; small and local projects, especially those related to Decent Life presidential initiative; start-ups; non-profit social initiatives and development projects related to women, climate change and sustainability.

He clarified that some of these projects focused on how to benefit from biological or solid waste for power generation and plastic and food recycling, in addition to water desalination, asserting the State is adamant to move ahead with achieving sustainable development goals. 

The ceremony was concluded by announcing the winning 18 projects out of 6,281 submitted from all governorates.