Ebeid discusses Egypt- World Bank cooperation

Egypt's Prime Minister Atef Ebeid received on Wednesday Regional Director of the World Bank (WB), Mahmoud Ayoub who is currently visiting Egypt.

After the meeting, Ayoub said that he reviewed cooperation between Egypt and the WB over the next stage especially in what regards financing part of the infrastructure projects and rural development in the Egyptian governorates.

"The talks focused on the financing of specific projects in education, health, water, sanitary drainage and small enterprises," added Ayoub.

Prime Minister Atef Ebeid on Wednesday opened the third stage of the May 15 Bridge, a vital bridge that is to ease the traffic flow from downtown, north and south Cairo to the Giza governorate and the July 26 corridor.

The total cost is about LE 60 million funded totally by the government.

Following the inauguration of the bridge, Ebeid said that Egypt witnesses every day new accomplishments that boost economic activity and make life easier for the people.

"The bridge will help save time and cost either for public transportation annually subsidized by the state or for citizens using private cars," he added.

"Total cost of projects implemented in Greater Cairo, either bridges or tunnels to facilitate traffic amounted to LE 2.2 billion," he said.

In reply to a query on the private sector's contribution to these major projects, he said that the state is committed to setting up major ventures that render services to the citizens.

"There are no private companies that implement such projects," he added.