Sisi opens Asmarat 3 for developing slum areas under SDG 11

13 / 07 / 2020

By Marwa Nassar - -

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi opened on Sunday Asmarat 3 project which falls within the state plans to eradicate slum areas in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 11 for sustainable cities and communities.

Asmarat 3 in Cairo’s Moqattam district came to complete the first two stages of this mega national project which is meant to develop slum areas.

Asmarat 1 and 2 have secured housing units for a total of 11,000 families.

Asmarat 3 secured 7,440 new housing units in 124 buildings for people who were living in slum areas.

The housing units were furnished and fit out with all appliances for free.

Dwellers who deserve these social housing units will pay only 350 pounds monthly.

There are four play grounds, two swimming pools and a garden for children to be able to enjoy their time.

During the inauguration of Asmarat 3, Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli said the Asmarat housing project is part of a big national program aiming at developing all unsafe areas nationwide.

This program offers support for about 140,000 families consisting of more than one million persons whom the government seeks to move from unsafe areas.

He noted that a mega service complex was opened to cater for the needs of about 100,000 people living in the three-stage Asmarat project.

Meanwhile, the premier noted that the wheel of production has not stopped since the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis, adding that international economic institutions has attested that the economic reform program has helped to encourage foreign investments and up growth rates.

For his part, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said the state adopted harsh measures for the best interests of both people and the state in order to realize development.

He added that the economic reform program which started in November 2016 has helped the country to remain steadfast during this hard stage, adding that Egypt would have been in a terrible position if this program was not accomplished.

He noted that the state spent over the past six years about 280 billion to improve people’s living conditions in Cairo.

He added that the coronavirus pandemic is an international crisis.

He added that this crisis led to suspending tourism in Egypt whose revenues stood at about $ 14 billion as well as the aviation sector which in turn affected trade movement.

Meanwhile, the president said that the state was working on ending encroachments over stat-owned lands in an easy way over the past 10 years, but from now on that state will take strict measures in this respect.

The president also raised an important issue pertaining to environment protection – a matter which is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The president said that the state plans to turn all cars to operate by natural gas instead of diesel oil, noting that the state has the right to license only natural gas cars within the context of protecting the environment.

He noted that the cost of putting fuel in cars will be halved when people turn their diesel oil car into natural gas one.

He noted that turning one million cars from diesel oil to natural gas could cost up to EGP 8 billion, urging the government to exert more efforts to incentivize people to take the step.

Egypt is seeking to attain the Sustainable Development Goals through removing slum areas, realizing economic growth, combating poverty and protecting the environment.