Environment Minister Khaled Fahmy and Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Banks Hesham Ezz el Arab signed Tuesday a cooperation agreement between the ministry and the federation to improve the environment of 15 slum areas in Helwan. 

The agreement came as part of coordinating efforts to activate a system to preserve environment in the unplanned and slum areas.

The project is also pursuant to an agreement on cooperation signed in February, 2014 between the Federation of Egyptian Banks, Cairo Governorate, the Local Development Ministry, the Slums Development Fund and the Military Works Division of the Armed Forces' Engineering Authority.

The environment minister affirmed the important role played by the banking sector in the environment investment spheres.

Ezz el Arab, for his part, said that the federation seeks to hold cooperation with serious bodies, which support the federation's vision in entrenching an integrated system to develop slum areas.