Toshka Project will continue
Interviewed by El-Musawar Magazine in its Friday edition, President Hosni Mubarak affirmed that work on Toshka project will continue non-stop, pointing out that feasibility studies' repeated affirmations that the project will be a success.
President Mubarak said studies conducted on soil samples from various parts around the project and existing experimental farms have proved the area is fit for growing pollution-free crops that stand a good chance of being exported.
President Mubarak hailed the Toshka project as one of the best and most important national projects that would increase the area of arable land and create new jobs opportunities for people living in the Upper Egypt.
It will also help in lessening over-crowding in the old valley, he said.
President Mubarak said there is no need to reconsider either the Toshka or the Gulf of Suez projects.
He added that he had given directives on ensuring the existence of a timetable for implementing industrial projects in the Gulf Suez area in order to urge investors to speed up the implementation of investment projects.
Mubarak said that he had told the government to take all the necessary measures to withdraw land allotments from investors who drag their feet on setting up the projects they have pledged to carry out within a specific time limit.
According to President Mubarak, work will shortly begin on a large-scale Petrochemicals plant in the Gulf of Suez, with Egyptian and South Korean private sector participation.
President Mubarak said he asked Prime Minister Atef Ebeid's government to restudy the iron project in southeast Aswan with a view to ensuring the project’s economic feasibility and the commitment of a number of Foreign Countries and Banks to fund it.
President Mubarak said he gave a directive to stop direct orders on the Sharq El-Tafria project with the purpose of maximizing transparency. He also directed the shrinking of public sector investments in new production activities in which the private sector should play a major role.
Mubarak said he will confer the collar of the Nile, Egypt's most prestigious order of merit, on Egyptian Scientist Dr. Ahmad Zweil at a reception ceremony on December 16.