Egypt, UK sign sustainable cities, infrastructure deal

Egypt and the United Kingdom signed a sustainable cities and infrastructure memorandum of understanding (MoU), the UK embassy in Cairo announced in a statement on Wednesday.
The new partnership will boost bilateral co-operation in the development of sustainable cities and infrastructure in Egypt by establishing a joint working group that will meet twice a year in London and Cairo. The working group will gather government bodies and industry representatives from both countries to exchange technical knowledge, training, expertise and best practice in the prioritisation, financing, and management of infrastructure projects.
The memorandum aims to position both countries to draw on their strengths to support the delivery of infrastructure projects in Egypt, the statement added. It will seek to grow the bilateral trading relationship and boost foreign investment into the Egyptian construction sector.

Projects will be identified by the working group and delivered in compliance with international quality and sustainability standards.

The MoU also builds upon the UK and Egypt’s commitment to the UN sustainable development goals and action on climate change. In November 2022, Egypt, as chair of COP27, developed – in collaboration with the UN – the Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation Initiative. The initiative is committed to achieving sustainable and resilient urban cities, which the UK and Egypt are dedicated to delivering through the MoU.
The agreement commits both countries to making progress on the sustainable development goals and climate change mitigation and adaption, including by deploying innovative climate technologies.
Gareth Bayley, UK Ambassador to Egypt, and Amin Ghoneim, Deputy Chairman of the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA), signed the agreement in Cairo on Tuesday.
“This agreement reinforces our commitment to sustainable development, fostering economic growth, and attracting foreign investment into the Egyptian infrastructure sector.” Ambassador Bayley said.
Total trade in goods and services between the UK and Egypt was £4.8 billion ($6.06 billion) in the 12 months to September 2023, of which total UK exports to the country amounted to £2.6 billion.