Dr. Mahmoud Mohy Eldin, the climate pioneer for the Egyptian presidency at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP27 and the UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, affirmed that the National Initiative for Green Smart Projects represents a strong addition to economic and developmental activities in Egypt.

These remarks were made during his participation in a preparatory meeting for the second edition of the initiative, attended by Ambassador Hisham Badr, the General Coordinator of the initiative, Dr. Hisham El-Helbawy, Assistant Minister of Local Development for National Projects, Dr. Khaled Mustafa, the Permanent Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development.

The meeting discussed proposals regarding the timeline for the second edition of the initiative, expanding participation from various sectors and social categories, and training project owners, whether participants in the initiative's competition or others, with the aim of giving a strong impetus to local development work and economic activities.

Dr. Mohy Eldin stated that the second edition of the initiative is witnessing significant momentum and a high level of participation from various local stakeholders after the success of its first edition last year.

He explained that the initiative is expanding its participation to include government and private universities, professional associations, chambers of commerce, banks, cooperatives, in addition to increased participation of women, youth, start-up companies, and people with disabilities.

He emphasized that the National Initiative for Green Smart Projects is a pioneering initiative in the field of sustainable development, commending the efforts made by the initiative's stakeholders at the ministry level, as well as at the governorate and local levels, where intensive rounds and seminars are being held to introduce the initiative and its objectives, as well as its strong support for technology-driven development work and environmentally friendly economic activities.

Dr. Mohy Eldin noted the significant interest from regional and international organizations, including United Nations entities, in cooperating with Egypt within the framework of the initiative.

He also highlighted the initiative's expansion to the regional and international levels, aligning with Egypt's efforts to broaden the scope of benefit from the initiative on both regional and global stages through collaboration with governments and various organizations, as well as the participation of winning projects in relevant international forums.

Furthermore, Dr. Mohy Eldin stated that the initiative enjoys the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The results of the initiative's competition and the honoring of the winning projects will be announced at a major national conference held under the auspices of President El-Sisi, with the participation of regional and international organizations, giving the initiative and its developmental and economic dimensions significant momentum.

Dr. Mohy Eldin confirmed that the main goal of the initiative is to localize development and climate work in all Egyptian villages and cities, map out investments at the governorate level, increase local awareness of sustainable development, climate change, and the transition to a green economy, and involve all local stakeholders in development and climate work by identifying six categories of projects participating in the initiative: large-scale projects, medium-scale projects, small local projects, particularly those associated with the presidential initiative "Decent Life," projects submitted by start-up companies, projects related to women, climate change, and sustainability, as well as non-profit community initiatives.

Last year's edition witnessed the participation of over 6,000 projects from across Egypt. Six winning projects were selected in each governorate, with one project from each category.

At the central level, the initiative's judging committee selected three winning projects for each category, which were announced and honored at a major national conference attended by the Prime Minister.

The winning projects were also showcased at the 27th Conference of the Parties in Sharm El-Sheikh and other international forums.

In a related positive development, Egypt's green energy sector has experienced remarkable growth in recent years.

The country has successfully attracted significant investments in renewable energy projects, leading to a substantial increase in clean energy generation. This progress not only contributes to mitigating climate change but also creates job opportunities, boosts the economy, and enhances Egypt's energy security.

The National Initiative for Green Smart Projects complements these achievements by promoting sustainable and innovative initiatives across various sectors, further positioning Egypt as a regional leader in green and smart solutions.