Egypt secures €800K grants from Spain for development projects

Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Rania Al-Mashat and Spain’s Ambassador to Egypt, Álvaro Iranzo signed on Tuesday two grants worth €800,000, provided by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), to support key development initiatives.

The first grant, valued at €500,000, will fund the Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Egyptian Sugar Factories Project, aiming to enhance water quality, cut pollution, and promote sustainable water resource management. This initiative seeks to mitigate the environmental footprint of sugar factories on the Nile River.

The second grant, totaling €300,000, is allocated to the Creation of Work for Young People through Training for Employment and for the Creation of Companies – Phase Two Project. Led by Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, the project focuses on generating jobs, encouraging self-employment, and fostering entrepreneurial innovation among Egyptian youth to spur inclusive economic growth.

In addition to the grants, discussions highlighted future collaboration under Egypt’s NWFE Programme, particularly in the food sector, and strategies to align with the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to enhance the global competitiveness of Egyptian exports.

Both sides also explored co-operation in areas such as infrastructure, food security, cultural heritage preservation, and Spain’s potential contributions to projects like the ENID integrated development programme.

The agreement underscores the long-standing partnership between Egypt and Spain, which dates back to the 1990s and spans key sectors including transport, housing, renewable energy, and SME support. These grants further solidify their commitment to sustainable development and economic growth.

Attribution: The Egyptian Cabinet

Subediting: Y.Yasser