Investment and International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr signed Monday with Director of Operations of the French Development Agency (AFD) Laurence Breton-Moyet and the French Ambassador to Egypt Andre Parent four agreements worth 259 million euros in spheres of energy, sanitary drainage and health.

The singing ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, Health Minister Ahmed Emad el Din and Deputy Finance Minister for Financial Policies Ahmed Kojak. 

The agreements include financial allocation, worth 175 million euros, to the Finance Ministry and a 3-million-euro grant to finance the technical program to the Electricity and Renewable Energy Program. 

The agreements also include a 50 million euros financing package to support the expansion of Alexandria wastewater treatment plant. 

The agreements further include a 31-million-euro financing package to enhance the quality of primary healthcare services in the country.

Nasr underlined the close ties binding Egypt and France at the various economic and political levels. 

Talking about the expansion of Alexandria wastewater treatment plant, the minister said that this project will work using the anaerobic bio digestion method and will serve to generate electricity and improve the environmental impact of the plant. 

The minister also pointed out to the crucial role of the AFD, which is considered the financing arm of the French government, saying that it contributes to promoting cooperation ties between Egypt and France. 

The health minister said that the project to support the quality of primary healthcare service will be part of the new health insurance law. 

There was a finance worth 75 million dollars from the World Bank to support the health units in Upper Egypt, he added.

Source: MENA