Canada confirms support for development project

A Canadian official yesterday confirmed his country's support for Egypt's future development schemes, particularly in education, environment, and small and medium-scale industries .

Head of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Len Good said that the CIDA is, under the supervision and in co-operation with the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Authority (EEAA), currently carrying out an environmental programme known as the 'Egyptian Environmental Initiative Fund' (EEIF) and is contributing to educational and industrial projects.

Good, who is in Egypt to celebrate 25 years of Egyptian-Canadian development co-operation, added that CIDA has contributed to more than 500 initiatives (worth Canadian $1 billion) in economic, social and environmental development in Egypt.

Later, at the headquarters of the Ministry of International Co-operation, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Fayza Abul Nagga and the CIDA chairman signed two agreements worth approximately LE60 million.

One agreement will promote basic education in three governorates in Upper Egypt and the other will address the unemployment problem and youth job opportunities.

The programmes come as a sign of Canada's commitment to Egypt following the meeting of the consultative group of international donors held, recently in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Abul Naga said that a US$10 million grant, under the new strategy of Canadian aid, is in the pipeline to benefit children and improve the lot of women.

She added that the agreement is aligned with the Egyptian government's policies aimed at combating poverty.

The CIDA chief praised the relations between his country and Egypt, expressing his hope that Canada's efforts will continue to contribute to economic and social development in Egypt.