International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr met on Monday with Asad Alam, World Bank Country Director for Egypt, over final arrangements for the 500-million-dollar Upper Egypt development program to be financed by the international financing body.

The minister underlined the importance of the program that comes as part of efforts to push forward the development process in Upper Egypt and improve living standards there.

The program aims at enhancing economic development in Upper Egypt, developing industrial areas, encouraging the private sector to engage in investment projects in Upper Egyptian governorates and boosting the role of information technology and communications to provide better services to Upper Egypt inhabitants.

The program's team expounded results of latest field visits to Sohag, Qena and Assiut that aimed at finding best ways to put into effect the program.

Local Development Minister Ahmed Zaki Badr and Trade and Industry Minister Tarek Qabil attended the meeting.

Source: MENA