The Housing, Utilities and Urban Development Minister Moustafa Madboli reviewed the role played by his ministry to implement the national strategic plan for urban development which includes carrying out urgent developmental national projects such as the new administrative capital.

This came during the minister's participation in the first National Youth Conference held in Sharm el Sheikh where politician Osama Gazali Harb, who criticizes the project of building a new administrative capital, took part also in the event.

During his speech in the conference, Madboli underlined that there has been a previous vision to implement the national strategic plan for urban development in Egypt whose study was finalized by the Housing Ministry in April 2014 in cooperation with the concerned ministries and experts in various fields, adding that the main goal is maximize the benefit of the country's resources and solving its problems.

The minister underlined also that the national strategic plan includes many projects such as developing the Suez Canal region as an international logistic and industrial center, eastern Port Said cities, new Ismalia, northwestern Suez Gulf besides achieving self-satisfaction from agricultural crops, reclaiming 1.5 million feddans and building the new administrative capital.

Madboli stressed that Egypt needs establishing at least 40 new cities during the coming 40 years to accommodate the population increase.

The minister thanked the former officials who planned for building new cities where 6 million inhabitants live, adding that the new administrative capital will benefit Egypt's youth and the coming generations.

He further said that the role of any government is solving current problems and offering a future vision for the coming generations.

Madboli reiterated that Cairo will remain Egypt's capital according to the constitution, noting that the new administrative capital will restore the historic, cultural and tourist role of Cairo which happened in many countries such as Japan and Malaysia.

The minister underlined also that the new administrative capital will be built on an area of 170.000 feddans and is scheduled to accommodate 6.5 million inhabitants and is 32 kilometers away from Cairo International Airport. 

Harab expressed his appreciation of Madboli's speech, but he suggested that this project should be presented to the parliament.

Source:  MENA