As prepared for delivery

Your Excellency Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Environment,

Dr. Samar El Ahdal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates for International Cooperation

Ambassador Khalid Anis, Assistant Foreign Minister for International Cooperation

Dr. Heba Abd El Moneim, Assistant Minister for Human Resources and Head of the Regional Planning Sector, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development

Ms. Anne Schouw, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt

Ms. Elena Panova, Resident Coordinator, United Nations Egypt

Your Excellencies, the Governors (H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hany Ghoneim, Governor of Fayoum, H.E. Eng. Amr Lashin, Governor of Aswan, H.E. Major General Abdallah Abdel Aziz, Governor of Beni Suef, H.E. Dr. Hisham Abu Zeid, Deputy Governor of Luxor)

Excellencies, distinguished partners, colleagues, and friends,

It is a privilege to welcome you today – together with our partners, Ministry of Local Development and Environment and the European Union, for the launch of the Integrated Local Development Strategies 2030 and Development Vision 2040 for Fayoum, Beni Suef, Luxor, and Aswan.

Development ultimately happens locally; in cities, villages, and communities where people live and work.

Today’s launch is about ensuring that Egypt’s national vision translates into real opportunities at the governorate level.

Allow me to extend appreciation to the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development for its critical role in anchoring these strategies within Egypt’s national planning architecture. Aligning them with the Unified Planning Law, the National Urban Policy, the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, and performance-based budgeting, ensures that these plans are integrated into national public investment systems and positioned for effective implementation.

In partnership with the Ministry of Local Development and Environment and the European Union, UNDP has supported the preparation of strategic plans, Local Economic Development strategies, medium-term investment plans, and strengthened local institutional capacities.

The process through which these strategies were developed has been participatory and inclusive. Consultations with government entities, the private sector, civil society, and socio-economic councils helped ensure that common priorities are reflected in the final plans.

This engagement also integrated a gender lens, recognizing the need to expand women’s economic opportunities, including access to markets, market-relevant skills, and finance.

I would like to briefly highlight how these strategies translate into concrete opportunities across the four governorates, and truly commend their excellencies Governors of Fayoum, Aswan,Beni Suef and Luxor, for their leadership and close collaboration throughout this process.

In Fayoum, the strategy leverages the governorate’s strong table olive production base. The Integrated Services Center and Industrial Complex in Yousef El-Seddik will introduce industrial units, research facilities, and marketing platforms to support value addition and develop a distinctive Fayoum olive brand, capable of competing in regional and global markets.

In Aswan, the strategy envisions the governorate as Egypt’s southern gateway to Africa, leveraging renewable energy, tourism, and agricultural potential. One illustration of this vision is the development of a dates value chain that connects farmers to processing, packaging, and markets, unlocking higher-value opportunities for local producers.

In Beni Suef, the strategy builds on the governorate’s strengths in medicinal and aromatic plants. The Integrated Services Center in SaMasta will provide advisory services, sterilization, packing, and marketing support, helping producers move up the value chain and access export markets.

In Luxor, globally known for its cultural heritage, the strategy seeks to diversify the local economy while strengthening tourism value chains. The development of modernized wholesale markets and local value chain shows how improving market infrastructure can enhance economic opportunities while supporting local producers and traders.

These examples illustrate how the strategies translate local comparative advantages into practical economic opportunities. It places as it is center, the critical role the private sector playsin local economic development.  

Across all four governorates, three priorities consistently emerge: economic diversification and competitiveness, improved infrastructure and public services, and stronger local institutions capable of planning, implementing, and monitoring development interventions.

But strategies alone do not transform territories. Implementation will require coordinated financing, alignment between national and local investment frameworks, strong private-sector engagement, and continued collaboration among development partners.

What we are witnessing today is more than the launch of development strategies—it is a demonstration of what becomes possible when partnerships, vision, and financing come together.

The same initiative that supported the development of these strategies has also translated vision into tangible investments through a blended financing approach. With a catalytic contribution of 2.4 million Euros from the European Union, more than  360 million EGP (approximately 7.3 million USD) in public investments have been mobilized, while also encouraging private sector engagement.

One example is the collaboration with the Agricultural Export Council. We are supporting the establishment of a sterilization unit valued at up to 70 million EGP within the Integrated Center for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Beni Suef. This investment will strengthen the value chain for high-value agricultural products and create new opportunities for local communities.

Importantly, this is not a one-off success. It is a model that can inspire further investments in Luxor, Fayoum, and Aswan, and beyond.

It shows how strategic partnerships—combining donor support, public investment, and private sector engagement—can mobilize far greater resources to accelerate sustainable local economic development and job creation.

UNDP remains fully committed to supporting the Ministry of Local Development and Environment and the four governorates in the next phase, from strategy to investment pipelines, from planning frameworks to bankable projects, and from policy to tangible improvements in people’s lives.

We must also ensure that women and youth actively participate in emerging economic opportunities and help shape the future of development in their respective governorates.

I would like to conclude with a simple reflection:

Local development means enabling every governorate to turn its unique strengths into opportunity, jobs, and prosperity for its people.

On behalf of UNDP, I would like to commend the Ministry of Local Development and Environment and the governors for their vision and leadership.

I also wish to extend our sincere appreciation to our partners in the European Union for their support, and to our local partners for their close collaboration in developing a strategy that will enable us to work together to turn this shared vision into reality.

Thank you.