“Urban Communities” seeks to complete the procedures of republican decisions to launch 5 new cities in 2022

The New Urban Communities Authority continues to achieve remarkable performance in the urban development file to follow the development plan of the “Egypt 2030” vision, and plans this year to complete the procedures for issuing the necessary republican decisions for about 5 new urban cities between the Red Sea and Upper Egypt.

“Al-Mal” held a dialogue with Dr. Walid Abbas, the assistant minister of housing and supervisor of the planning and projects sector in the authority, to talk about what was accomplished during the past year in terms of the lands allocated in the new urban cities, and the expectations of the new year, other than identifying the authority’s vision in facilitating the investment climate Later.

During the dialogue, Abbas reviewed the lands that have been allocated in the new cities, and others that are being allocated as well, in addition to issuing republican decisions for new urban cities, and offering 12 investment opportunities for partnership with the private sector in the new year.

Procurement of 480 plots with a total of 2,209.32 acres last year

Initially, Abbas said that last year, the authority received requests to purchase lands from developers with a total of 480 plots of land with a total area of ​​about 2,209.32 acres.

Allocating 1305 plots of land with an area of ​​8819 acres, of which 277 are to be paid in dollars

He continued, "1305 plots of land have been allocated with a total area of ​​8,819 acres, comprising 277 plots of land whose value is paid in dollars by transfer from abroad, in addition to 676 plots of land that are being allocated with an area of ​​1,552 acres."

Proceeding to allocate 676 plots of land with an area of ​​1,552 acres during the coming period

He explained that in addition to the sale proceeds of those lands, there are also development returns resulting from the establishment of these projects, which will provide more than 150 thousand direct and indirect job opportunities to establish and operate these projects.

On the authority’s and the government’s plan to launch fourth-generation cities and the nearest cities expected to come to light, he said that within the framework of the authority’s keenness to implement the presidential directives regarding urban expansion and increasing the proportion of the Egyptian population through the establishment of new cities in the governorates of the republic, and in continuation of the authority’s developmental role in Egyptian construction and increasing rates Quality of life in the new cities, improving the standard of living and relieving population pressure on existing cities.

He stated that as part of the development plan for the new cities and in implementation of the 2030 vision, the procedures for issuing the necessary republican decisions for the coastal cities (the new city of Hurghada) and the cities of Upper Egypt, the new city of Girga, the new Isna, the new Samalut, and East Al-Owainat) will be completed during 2022.

He pointed out that for the New Urban Communities Authority, 12 investment opportunities are currently being prepared for the partnership between the private sector and the authority using the in-kind and cash share system with the real estate developer.

The Minister of Housing, Assem Al-Jazzar, had recently revealed that there are 18 projects under the system between the New Urban Communities Authority and real estate developers, on an area of ​​24,000 acres, and they are implemented over 10 years, with a total investment of one trillion pounds, and provide 1.2 million job opportunities, which confirms the ministry’s interest. These types of projects.

On the authority’s role in achieving urban development in Egypt, Abbas explained that the authority was established for the purpose of urban development throughout the Republic. Since its inception, it has been able to double the Egyptian population by establishing about 60 new cities, through which it provided adequate and decent housing, job opportunities and service activities, in addition to contributions In organizing and developing the real estate sector with the private sector

He talked about the authority's newness in implementing digital transformation mechanisms, explaining that in light of the digital transformation of the state and the political leadership's keenness on digital transformation and financial inclusion, the authority is keen on developing work and facilitating communication with the authority's agencies, maximizing the use of land, the authority's mandate, and supporting decision makers.

Abbas continued: The digital transformation strategy was presented through 7 main axes that depend on spatial and informational linking of geographical databases with unit projects and smart applications at the authority level, which aim to provide services with an unprecedented experience for the citizen and investor, governance of procedures to ensure compliance with regulations and guarantee the right of The state and the development of ways to support decision-making, contributing to the state’s strategy in achieving financial inclusion and governance, including the unified electronic system for licensing in new cities).

He mentioned some other axes, including in terms of preparing a geographical database (GIS) for each of the new cities, the mandate of the New Urban Communities Authority, to integrate with what was presented the projects of the unit. over the web.

The “immediate allocation system – investment projects – the authority’s website” includes the spatial information system for the violations management system in new cities, the graphic and spatial integration system with the real estate registry, the spatial integration with the Ministry of Planning and Follow-up SDI, the application of smart city code indicators and standards in each urban sector - The unified electronic system for licensing new cities) as well as the formation of sub-units in the authority’s city agencies to follow up on these projects, according to “Abbas.”

On evaluating the experience of fourth-generation cities in Egypt, he said: “Perhaps the most important characteristic of fourth-generation cities is the focus on reaching the highest level of luxury, in addition to green areas and the provision of modern services for all levels of housing.”

New fourth-generation cities were established in order to help increase economic growth, improve the life of the citizen and reach the quality of life, prevent the formation of crowded areas throughout the governorates, solve traffic congestion problems, and provide nearly 4 million direct jobs, and 3 million indirect jobs. “.

New cities accommodate more than 30 million people

He continued, "The fourth generation cities were also established for several goals, including encouraging investment in the country, activating the real estate market, improving services and preserving the environment. It is expected that the new cities will accommodate more than 30 million people after the completion of their establishment."

The government acquires 70% of the investments of the “fourth generation and the rest” of the private sector

He stated that investments in fourth-generation cities vary between governmental and private, as government investment in fourth-generation cities currently represents about 70% of the total investments and 30% of private investments represented in service and urban investment lands that companies buy and build on, including schools, hospitals, and private housing projects.

He believed that the construction process in new cities recently faced many challenges, perhaps the most important of which is the Corona pandemic, which disrupted the construction process and reduced the number of working hours in all sites during that last period.

Abbas said that the authority is studying the development of some mechanisms of demand privatization to facilitate procedures for investors and ensure a good investment climate that allows serious investors to obtain the best investment opportunities.

It is worth noting that the Minister of Housing, Assem Al-Jazzar, discussed since the development of the budget of the New Urban Communities Authority in the period from 2014 to 2021, which amounted to 600 billion pounds, as the total expenditures on the various projects implemented by the authority in new cities increased from 46.5 billion pounds in the 2014 fiscal year. /2015 to 145 billion in the current fiscal year 2021/2020, in addition to the budget of the Ministry of Housing from the state to 85 billion.

Weeks ago, Al-Butcher reviewed the achievements of the planning and projects sector in the New Urban Communities Authority during 2021, which included the issuance of ministerial decisions approving planning, division and urban design for 296 urban, service and investment projects, with an average of 25 ministerial decisions per month, more than double the ministerial decisions issued in 2020. .

He explained that these projects include 55 projects in fourth-generation cities and 12 “tourist-urban” projects in the northwestern coast, and these projects will be built on a total area of ​​about 38,000 acres in 12 new cities.

The sector also contributed to providing housing units for all citizens during the past year by preparing plans for about 238 thousand housing units within the various axes of the presidential initiative “Housing for All Egyptians”, allocated to citizens of all income groups, namely: 200 thousand housing units within the low-income axis, and about 25 One thousand housing units in the middle-income axis, and about 13 thousand housing units in the above-average axis as a first stage within the initiative.

He pointed out that the planning sector is the cornerstone and the main guide for planning the establishment of projects and the identification of urban development programs in new cities. Accordingly, the sector contributed during 2021 to the issuance of 690 attribution orders, and 1,350 approvals for proposals that contribute to the development and revitalization of the construction sector and provide more job opportunities. In addition to the residential and service activities in the new cities, within the framework of the speedy assignment of “consulting-executive” works in the new cities in accordance with the rules and laws regulating to ensure speedy implementation.

He pointed out that in the context of the expansion of the establishment of new cities, detailed plans have been prepared for an area of ​​about 8.2 thousand feddans, with a variety of activities "urban - residential - service" that contribute to increasing the areas available for development.