Tuesday 12/November/2024 – 04:43 PM
Dr. Rania shared The combMinister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and Governor of Egypt at the World Bank, in a workshop entitled Developing renewable and sustainable energy in the Gulf of Suez region, which was organized in cooperation between the Ministry and the International Finance Corporation.
This came in the presence of Sheikh Omar Sylla, IFC Regional Director for North Africa and the Horn of Africa, and with the participation of representatives of the World Bank, Bird Life, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the British Finance Corporation. And the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector.
In her opening speech, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat stressed the close relationship with the International Finance Corporation, through which the private sector is supported to increase its investments in various areas of development, including renewable energy, explaining that the workshop aims to discuss and unify visions about the urgent need to review and update strategic environmental and social assessments. With the aim of measuring the cumulative mortality rates of birds resulting from current and future wind energy projects in the region, which is considered a global corridor for migratory birds from Europe to Africa.
Renewable energy production
The Minister stressed the importance of participation in order to promote sustainable development in our country, expand our competitive capabilities in producing renewable energy, and at the same time protect the environmental and natural diversity that Egypt abounds in, especially the unique phenomenon related to the annual bird migration through the Rift Valley/Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez route. She explained that today’s workshop is not just a meeting to discuss environmental issues, but rather an important step towards formulating an integrated study that ensures achieving sustainable development and achieving a balance between our development needs and our environmental obligations.
Al-Mashat: The International Finance Corporation plays a major role in supporting the private sector to increase its investments in renewable energy
The Minister of Planning and International Cooperation explained that with the rapid expansion in the development of wind energy projects and other projects in the Gulf of Suez region, it has become necessary to update the current understanding of the risks of bird collisions and their interaction with this increasing infrastructure, noting that previous assessments that were conducted are no longer sufficient to keep up. New developments and risks, which requires us to update our strategic assessments and assess cumulative impacts to ensure our ability to protect migratory birds and ensure the long-term viability of their populations.
Al-Mashat reviewed the role of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation in achieving comprehensive and sustainable development in line with Egypt’s national goals and international obligations, pointing to the merger that took place between the Ministries of Planning and International Cooperation last July, which allowed us to adopt a more comprehensive approach, as economic planning is no longer limited to On achieving purely economic goals, it now includes developing comprehensive strategies aimed at achieving sustainable development based on innovation, social justice, and environmental protection.
She added: Through this merger, the Ministry can act as a bridge between various sectors and relevant parties, from the government and the private sector to international partners, to enhance cooperation and integration in implementing projects with high environmental and social standards, as our role is no longer limited to planning for growth only. Rather, it includes a commitment to developing strategies that promote comprehensive and sustainable development that meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people and ensure the preservation of our natural heritage.
At the conclusion of her speech, the Minister of Planning affirmed that the latest practices in mitigating environmental impacts will be reviewed and monitored, to ensure that Egypt’s progress in the field of renewable energy will continue in a responsible and sustainable manner, pointing out that development financial institutions, international financial organizations and national bodies will have a pivotal role in providing financial and technical support. To ensure the comprehensiveness and sustainability of strategic environmental and social assessments and assess cumulative impacts.
For his part, Sheikh Omar Sylla, IFC Regional Director for North Africa and the Horn of Africa, said: Sustainable development can only be achieved by striving towards it responsibly, so we cooperate with the Egyptian government and development partners in order to achieve a common goal, which is to take into account environmental sustainability during the implementation of projects. Renewable energy to align our commitments towards maintaining environmental balance with our decarbonisation efforts.
