Egypt's Minister of Local Development and Acting Environment Minister Manal Awad held two meetings on Wednesday with Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk at the ministry's headquarters in the New Capital. The discussions focused on supporting the waste management system and strengthening local revenue streams. Both sides emphasized coordination for green economy tools and improved public services.
In the first meeting, officials reviewed progress on reform measures tied to the IMF's Resilience and Sustainability Trust, alongside the financial sustainability of the national solid waste management system and funding needs for private waste-collection companies across governorates. Discussions also addressed cooperation between the Environment and Finance Ministries on implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system under the Waste Management Law, as part of Egypt's shift toward a green economy.
Awad emphasized the Environment Ministry's commitment to ongoing coordination with the Finance Ministry to bolster green economic tools, expand climate-related financing access, and speed up investments that cut carbon emissions and promote renewable energy. Kouchouk reaffirmed the Finance Ministry's support, especially for sustaining waste-collection services and narrowing the sector's funding gap to maintain environmental and aesthetic standards in cities and governorates.
The second meeting examined financial hurdles preventing governorates from expanding and managing their revenue-generating projects, with goals to enhance local financial autonomy, relieve state budget pressures, and upgrade public services. It also covered executive regulations for governorate activities—including parking management, advertising, and economic housing—with plans to standardize them nationwide for unified procedures and better service delivery.
Awad expressed appreciation for the Finance Ministry's continued cooperation, noting that boosting local revenue streams is crucial for governorates to serve citizens more effectively and foster sustainable development. She highlighted the ministry's close monitoring of governorates' plans to broaden economic activities, capitalize on geographic advantages, and tackle obstacles through sustained coordination with the Finance Ministry and other state entities. Kouchouk welcomed new initiatives to mobilize extra resources, underscoring the need to involve the private sector and ensure efficient collection of dues from companies and citizens.
Senior officials from both ministries attended, including Sherine El-Sharkawy, First Assistant Minister of Finance for Economic Affairs; Yasser Abdallah, Head of the Waste Management Regulatory Authority; and senior advisors from the three ministries.