PRESS RELEASE

The South Sinai Regional Development Programme (SSRDP) funded by European Union with Euro 64 Million (Approximately half a Billion Egyptian Pound)
Awards contracts of 55.5 Million Euros for Development Projects in South Sinai

South Sinai on Tuesday 12th of June 2007
H.E. General Mohamed Hany Metwally, the Governor of South Sinai has announced that the South Sinai Regional Development Programme has succeeded in committing all the planned funds for the program activities and projects, having 55.5 million Euros contracted for a number of strategic infrastructure and socio-economic development projects for the development of South Sinai.

In an event to celebrate contract awarding held in Sharm El-Sheikh on Tuesday 12th of June 2007, H.E. the Governor of South Sinai, General Mohamed Hany Metwally, H.E. the Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Commission in Egypt, Dr. Klaus Ebermann, and Dr. Khaled Metwally jointly congratulated the people of South Sinai for the successful contract procedures having taken place for 195 projects to be implemented over the coming 3.5 years. These projects will contribute to the promotion of local socio-economic development and preservation of the unique cultural and natural resources of the South Sinai Governorate.

The Financing Agreement between the European Commission as Sponsor(donor), the Ministry of International Cooperation as National Coordinator and the Governorate of South Sinai as Beneficiary was signed on the 7th of April 2005 and put into force by Presidential Decree No. 257 on the 26th of July 2005. The Agreement included the establishment of the Programme Support Unit (PSU) of the South Sinai Regional Development Programme to act as the Contracting Authority on behalf of the South Sinai Governorate.

Headed by Dr. Khaled Abdel Hamid Metwally the South Sinai Regional Development Programme according to the Financing Agreement was structured to include two main Components.

Component 1 concerns the design and implementation of major infrastructure projects. These projects, H.E. the Governor of South Sinai explained, had been identified in a participatory manner earlier in September 2004 during a Stakeholder Conference in Sharm El Sheikh attended by a representative cross section of the South Sinai society, civil society, private sector, local authorities, relevant ministries and EU member states.

Following design and tendering completion 16 Component 1 contracts with a total investment of nearly 34 million Euros have recently been formalized, signed and their implementation started.

The major infrastructure projects under these works and supply contracts are:

• Water Supply for St Katherine and Wadi Feiran Villages

• Wastewater System Improvements for El-Tur City and Wadi El-Tur Village

• Waste Management Systems for South Sinai

• Supply of water tankers and tanks to rural communities near El Tur and Sharm el Sheikh

• Supply of boats, mooring systems, tracking and monitoring equipment, and

• Sustainable Tourism Development Planning for South Sinai

Furthermore, Dr. Khaled Metwally, Program Director announced the contracting of another 21.5 million Euros under Component 2 of the Programme for high priority development sectors under the following six themes: 1) social development, 2) local economic development, 3) cultural heritage, 4) capacity building, 5) public awareness, 6) in addition to environment and sustainable development.

Projects in health, vocational training, integrated development, sustainable tourism, women empowerment, youth training and employment, agriculture, fishing, and others are to complement and to accelerate the implementation of the Governorate’s Development Plan 2017.

Under Component 2 a total of 55 grant contracts were signed with the Local Authorities of South Sinai, National and International Organizations and NGOs and local SMEs. Another 124 grant contracts have been signed with Government Sheikhs for the implementation of small scale development projects benefiting Bedouin communities.

H.E. Mohammad Hany Metwally, Governor of South Sinai added that the expected results of Component I and II are:
For projects contracted with Component 1:

1. 4,000 potable water cubic meters provided to Saint Katherine and Wadi Firan villages, through potable water pipes network installation.
    

2. 8 water tankers (storage tanks), transporting water to Bedouin communities close to El Tur, and Sharm El Sheikh.
    

3. 710 potable water tanks for Bedouin houses in Bedouin communities close to El Tur, and Sharm El Sheikh.
    

4. Waste water system development in Tur Sinai, through constructing waste water processing station, oxidation ponds, and a major pump station.
    

5. Solid waste management fully-equipped project implemented in South Sinai cities, comprising land fills in Sharm El Sheikh and Tur Sinai, together with a solid waste processing factory in Sharm El Sheikh.
    

6. 4 patrol boats, and 1 big installation boat, for environmental protection of coastal areas in El Aqaba Bay.
    

7. Constructing a Mooring, Tracking and Monitoring System, for natural resources preservation.
    

8. Provision of supplies and equipment to the natural protectorates sector.
    

9. Researching a sustainable tourism study for South Sinai region.

For projects contracted with Component II:
4,000 permanent, direct and indirect, job opportunities, Income generation for 9,500 Bedouin households secured ,4,400 livestock heads purchased and provided , Mobile vet unit, serve

Bedouin needs at valleys provided , Health and food services to more than 9,000 Bedouin households at valleys provided , 3 health care units constructed , 3300 Bedouin households provided with potable water ,140 shallow wells dug (for irrigation and potable water) , 10 deep wells dug (for irrigation and potable water) , 90 dams/cisterns/water tanks for Bedouins constructed , 1700 acres cultivated , 330 small farms for Bedouins constructed, 115 distant houses provided with electricity , 50 Bedouin houses built , 4 one-class schools constructed 500 trainings held, serving topics of health, cultural heritage, handicrafts, managerial and planning skills, small projects management, as well as foreign languages and computer skills, 22,000 young men and women trained, qualified for work at different fields, Integrated training center for Bedouin women constructed at Sharm El Sheikh (Susan Mubarak Center), 1-2 employment services centers constructed for South Sinai residents ,3 training centers constructed ,2 small micro-support support centers constructed ,240 PCs provided for training centers ,Rehabilitation center constructed for special needs people ,120,000 birds secured annually ,1,000,000 eggs secured annually ,Tourist managemental system developed at Saint Katherine Monastery, and restorations to some tourist sites at Muses Mountain provide

Programme Director, Dr. Khaled Metwally, and his Team of National and International Experts wished all project holders success in implementing their projects which for sure will benefit the South Sinai society. Furthermore on behalf of the people of South Sinai he expressed his great appreciation for the fruitful cooperation between the European Commission and the Governorate and congratulated H.E. the Governor and H.E. the Ambassador with the successful completion of the contracting phase of SSRDP.