Cairo: The activities of the National Conference for the 3rd Round of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects concluded last evening, under the patronage and presence of H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister. The Prime Minister and H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation, honored 18 winning projects in various categories of the initiative. The governors of New Valley, Menoufia, and Gharbia were also honored for their participation in the “Green Village” initiative.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the event was attended by Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Special Envoy for Financing the Sustainable Development Agenda, Ms. Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Mr. Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt, and a number of officials from national entities, development partners, and representatives of the winning companies in the initiative.
During the conference, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation reviewed the national efforts to promote development and the transition to a green economy, particularly since Egypt’s presidency of COP27. H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted Egypt’s active role in amplifying the voice of developing and emerging countries in all international forums, calling for the importance of establishing the concept of just and equitable financing.
The conference witnessed the honoring of the 18 winning projects in the 3rd round of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects across its six categories. In the large-sized projects category, the winners included Biofarm for Sustainable Agricultural Investment and Development from New Valley Governorate, the Sustainable Transportation project from Alexandria Governorate, and a project utilizing excess hydrogen as combustion fuel in steam production boilers.
In the medium-sized projects category, the winners were the Flare Gas Reduction project at Badr El-Din Petroleum Company fields in Matrouh Governorate, the Tree Forest project in Ismailia Governorate, and the Terra Tech Environmental Solutions project from Dakahlia Governorate. The small-sized local projects (Haya Karima) category included winners such as the Black Soldiers Fly project from Assiut Governorate and the Spirulina Algae Cultivation project from Port Said Governorate.
The development projects related to women, climate change, and sustainability category saw winners like the Mangrove Bees project from Red Sea Governorate and the Shrimp Shell Waste Recycling project in Fayoum Governorate. Non-profit community initiatives recognized included the Smart Green Rehabilitation and Reform Centers project from Minya Governorate and the Sea Cucumber Species project from Suez Governorate.
The startups category winners featured projects such as the Development of a Non-Contact Radar System from Damietta Governorate and the Environmental Pollution Reduction project using Green Nanotechnology from Gharbia Governorate. Ambassador Hisham Badr, General Coordinator of the initiative, presented on the key results and outputs over the past three years.
The event included a screening of a documentary film about the initiative’s role in promoting development efforts and climate action. Recorded speeches were broadcast by several ministers, emphasizing the significant impact of the initiative.
During the event, governors from New Valley, Gharbia, and Menoufia were honored for their villages receiving the “Tarshid” certificate, a recognition for compliance with “net-zero emissions” standards. The “Green Village” initiative aims to qualify villages to meet the latest global environmental standards and promote the green transition.