Yasmine Fouad: Extending the periods of permits to practice investment activities in reserves to up to 10 years
Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, chaired the 64th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Environmental Affairs Agency to discuss a number of vital topics aimed at strengthening environmental efforts in Egypt, where plans for developing the infrastructure for environmental facilities were reviewed, and laws and regulations that support achieving sustainable development and conservation were discussed. On natural resources, in the presence of Dr. Ali Abu Sunna, CEO of the Environmental Affairs Agency, Dr. Walid Rashad, Head of the Financial and Administrative Affairs Sector, Counselor Salah Hilal, Vice President of the State Council, and representatives of the Ministries of Industry and Cooperation. International and planning, water resources, irrigation, health, higher education, scientific research, the public business sector, a group of environmental experts, and a number of leaders concerned with the Ministry of Environment.
At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Yasmine praised Fouad played the role of all concerned parties in enhancing cooperation between different sectors to achieve national environmental goals, noting the need to intensify efforts to achieve Egypt’s Vision 2030, stressing the importance of continuing to follow up on the implementation of environmental plans and initiatives, With the need for concerted efforts to ensure tangible progress in all areas related to the environment.
Dr. Yasmine Fouad confirmed that the Ministry pays great attention to facilitating procedures for investors, within the framework of supporting… The state to create an attractive and sustainable investment environment. The Ministry seeks to encourage investment in promising environmental sectors such as eco-tourism and renewable energy. Pointing out that the Ministry is working to develop an electronic system to simplify licensing and permit procedures, which contributes to reducing the time period required for approvals and enhancing transparency. And making it easier for investors and the private sector, while ensuring compliance with environmental requirements to achieve sustainable development and preserve natural resources for future generations.
During the meeting, Dr. Ali Abu Sunna reviewed the Council’s decisions. The precedent for the items of the 63rd meeting was approved, and its decisions were approved and what was agreed upon. The head of the agency also reviewed a number of important topics that the agency will focus on during the coming period, and a number of topics were approved. Including issuing the executive rules for social, cultural, and sports services for employees of the Ministry of Environment and its agencies, through the Workers’ Welfare Account, in light of the Ministry of Environment’s efforts to reduce the burden on employees of the Ministry and its regional branches and improve financial conditions. The Council also discussed the procedures for issuing a permit to carry out activity for the monastery in the St. Catherine Nature Reserve. In light of what was agreed upon in the meetings held in this regard.
Dr. explained. Yasmine Fouad said that the Council agreed to simplify the procedures for environmental permits, and to speed up the documentary cycle for renewing permits for the use of coal and petroleum, especially with the electronic system that the Ministry of Environment will launch during the coming period to obtain these licenses and permits, and to facilitate approval procedures for investment projects. Adopting flexible environmental plans that include approval of permits for coal shipments, reducing carbon emissions, and preparing environmental emergency plans. Reviewing the recommendations of the technical committee to review environmental performance reports to renew permits for the trading and use of coal or petroleum, for a number of facilities, and reviewing the environmental position of a number of cement companies, and the extent of compliance with the timetable for the plan submitted to connect to the national network to monitor emissions after the approval of the competent authority. Based on that plan, and with the need for the company to commit to conducting quarterly environmental measurements in full, while increasing measures to reduce carbon emissions and calculating the volume of carbon absorbed from planted trees. At the factory, through one of the Egyptian government research centers, and preparing an emergency plan to combat pollution, which is approved by the relevant department of the Environmental Affairs Agency.
The procedures that were taken were also reviewed. The Environmental Affairs Agency implemented it to accelerate the pace of the documentary cycle for reviewing and renewing the permit for trading or using coal and petroleum. Adding that it was also approved to amend the classification of solar electricity production station projects to encourage the expansion of renewable energy projects.
The Council also approved the decision to extend the periods of permits for practicing investment activities in the reserves to support Ecotourism and cooperation with the private sector to carry out activities for investors within the reserves, as it was approved to extend the private sector investment permit in the Wadi El Rayan Reserve in Fayoum, for a period of 10 years, with the requirement to take into account environmental standards and requirements in this regard, as Dr. explained. Yasmine Fouad, during the last period, work has been done to benefit from natural reserves and offer them to investors, to provide various tourism activities that are appropriate to the nature of the reserves and to enjoy the picturesque nature therein in cooperation with the private sector to support eco-tourism in the reserves, especially in light of the state’s tendency to support investment in cooperation with the private sector. Benefiting from regional and global experiences in this regard, while ensuring that the implementing company adheres to all environmental standards and requirements within the reserves.
She added that the Council agreed to complete the project to develop Gharqana village in Nabq Reserve, including establishing housing units and improving services provided to local residents. Determining the symbolic fee for licensing the use of (51) furnished housing units established for local residents, within the framework of completing the activities of the financial sustainability component (local component) of the project to integrate biodiversity conservation into tourism in Egypt. Efforts to develop the village of Gharqana in the Nabq Reserve in South Sinai were reviewed, within the framework of the Ministry of Environment’s efforts to preserve natural resources and biodiversity, improve the living conditions of the local population in the reserve, and promote eco-tourism. In addition to developing indicative and introductory signs for the reserve, and developing cafeterias and services provided to visitors.
The Council also discussed procedures for developing the system for registering and accrediting environmental consultants and specialists stipulated in Article (13) ( (bis) of Environmental Law No. 4 of 1994, amended by Law No. 9 of 2009 and its executive regulations, and procedures The immediate and future recommendations and recommendations that can be implemented to improve the system of registration and accreditation of consultants and achieve high levels of efficiency, transparency and credibility in accreditation processes.
The Minister of Environment appreciated the effort made to develop the system for registering and accrediting consultants and specialists. Applicants to obtain a certificate accredited by the Environmental Affairs Agency, in accordance with international standards, emphasizing its importance to the environmental file, which witnesses many international developments, noting the importance of studying this file carefully. By the members of the Council, given that it will change the form of institutional systems and the composition of national human resources to work in the environmental sector in Egypt, and this file will be discussed in detail during the next session of the Council.
