Dr. Assem El Gazzar - Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, met at the headquarters of the Ministry of Housing in the New Administrative Capital, Angola’s Minister of Public Works, Urbanism, and Housing Carlos Alberto Gregorio dos Santos, and Mr. Nelson Cosme - Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to Cairo, and their accompanying delegation, to explore the urban experience of Egypt, during the era of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, in the presence of Ministry officials and Eng. Ahmed El Assar – CEO & Chairman of the Arab Contractors Company.
Dr. Assem El Gazzar welcomed his Angolan counterpart and his accompanying delegation, stressing Egypt's full readiness to share its vast experiences in the urban development field and bilateral cooperation with our brothers in Angola, whether in the field of capacity-building, exchange of experiences, or participation in the implementation of projects through the Egyptian contracting companies, which have extensive experience in the implementation of various projects and are fully prepared to participate in the implementation of various projects in Angola through their cadres and equipment, and by providing the necessary materials for the implementation of urban development projects.
The Minister of Housing confirmed that Egyptian contracting companies, whether private or public sector companies, led by the Arab Contractors Company, have accumulated great experience in implementing various urban development projects, whether in the production of building materials, the capabilities of human cadres, the volume of equipment, or highly trained workers. The total number of companies operating in various projects nationwide has reached about 3,000 companies, and those companies are now able to implement various projects abroad, especially for our brothers in Africa.
The Minister explained that the Arab Contractors Company implements a number of development projects for our brothers in African countries, and on top of these projects is Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant and Dam on Rufiji River, in cooperation with Elsewedy Electric, which is also an Egyptian company. The project is followed up directly by the political leadership, which directs the Ministry of Housing to follow up on projects implemented by Egyptian companies for our brothers in Africa.
Dr. Assem El Gazzar pointed out that 60 years ago, Egypt sought the help of Russian experts to construct the High Dam, and here we are today, through the Egyptian JV of the "Arab Contractors – Elsewedy Electric" companies, cooperating with our brothers in Tanzania to construct a dam on Rufiji River. Its ability to generate electricity exceeds the capacity of the High Dam; and this emphasized that through bilateral African cooperation, we can help each other and achieve comprehensive development for the peoples of the African continent.
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For his part, Angola’s Minister of Public Works, Urbanism and Housing Carlos Alberto Gregorio dos Santos, expressed his happiness about his presence in Egypt at the head of a senior delegation that included officials of the Ministry of Housing and heads of contracting companies that assisted Angola in implementing development projects, stated that the day he visited the New Administrative Capital in Egypt was one of the most beautiful days of his life, as he saw the transformation of the dream into reality by implementing the New Administrative Capital.
The Angolan Minister of Housing added that the capital of Angola suffers from the same problems as the Egyptian capital, Cairo, and this puts his ministry in a challenge to establish a new administrative political center. He explained that his current visit to Egypt allows him and his accompanying delegation to explore the Egyptian urban experience, especially in the implementation of the New Administrative Capital.
Angola’s Minister of Public Works, Urbanism and Housing, Carlos Alberto Gregorio dos Santos said that he witnessed the Egyptian experience in the implementation of housing units of various types appropriate for all levels of society, and this facilitated a way for bilateral cooperation. We also look forward to bilateral cooperation and benefit from Egyptian experience in the implementation of roads and axes to connect urban areas, as well as the implementation of utilities and infrastructure projects.
Mr. Carlos Alberto Gregorio dos Santos declared that there has been an agreement for bilateral cooperation between Angola and Egypt since 2003, and he came to Egypt to strengthen this cooperation and turn it into a tangible reality between the two sides. He thanked the Minister of Housing and officials of the ministry for giving them the opportunity to explore the Egyptian urban experience, to benefit from it. He invited Dr. Assem El Gazzar to visit the Republic of Angola, to benefit from his expertise in urban development.
The two ministers agreed to form specialized working groups from both sides in the areas of capacity building, the construction of housing units, slum development, the implementation of roads, axes, and bridges, water and wastewater projects, and other fields during the Angolan delegation's visit to Egypt to turn this visit into an action plan.