Pioneering Sustainable Development: Egypt’s Industrial Environmental Integration and the Private Sector’s Vital Role

Environment Minister Discusses Private Sector’s Role In Advancing Egypt’s Industrial Environmental Integration

In a pivotal meeting with representatives from the African Development Bank, Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, discussed the nation’s strides towards integrating environmental considerations into the industrial sector. This conversation is part of Egypt’s broader engagement with strategic partners to enhance the country’s environmental stewardship, particularly through the Private Sector Development Support Programme’s second phase.

The dialogue brought together key figures, including the head of the Environmental Affairs Agency, the central department head of International Cooperation at the Ministry, and advisors and directors specializing in private sector and African cooperation. Their discussions centered on the significant reforms and initiatives designed to merge environmental sustainability with industrial progress, signaling the pivotal role of the private sector in this transformation.

Fouad emphasized the government’s commitment through laws and initiatives that aim to encourage private sector investment in environmentally friendly projects. Acknowledging the critical role of the industrial sector in achieving sustainable development, she shed light on the long history of efforts to reduce industrial pollution, starting with the Industrial Pollution Control Programme initiated in 1999. This program, supported by global development partners, has played a significant role in helping industries meet environmental standards, offering soft loans to facilitate compliance.

With the advent of global green transformation trends, Egypt is gearing up for the “Sustainable Green Industry” phase, supported by a €271m fund from the European Investment Bank. This phase aims to promote circular economy practices, enhance resource efficiency, and adopt renewable energy, which aligns with Egypt’s comprehensive approach to environmental and natural resource management over recent years.

The minister also highlighted how the COP27 climate summit served as a crucial event for Egypt to promote its environmental initiatives, including the shift towards using alternative fuels in the cement industry. This transition has not only reduced reliance on coal but also nurtured synergies between the cement and waste recycling sectors.

Further initiatives include the development of guidance manuals for obtaining the Golden License, promoting environmentally compliant industrial growth, and a new feed-in tariff to encourage waste-to-energy projects. These efforts, alongside a strategic bioeconomy strategy developed in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), indicate a robust framework for engaging the private sector in green investments, including ventures in agricultural-product based industries like Jojoba and Aloe Vera.

Olivier Stolz from the African Development Bank expressed the institution’s support for Egypt’s environmental reforms and initiatives. He highlighted the bank’s focus on fostering sustainable private sector growth, particularly through projects that align with climate finance and bolster resilience in critical areas like water and food security. The collaboration on developing environmental standards for the Golden License and executing the bioeconomy strategy underscores a shared commitment to facilitating Egypt’s green transition.

This meeting not only reinforced the importance of public-private partnerships in achieving environmental goals but also set a precedent for how nations can align industrial development with ecological sustainability, marking a new chapter in Egypt’s journey towards a greener future.