A high-level delegation from the European Union (EU) Commission and the French Development Agency (AFD) toured urban development and infrastructure projects under construction in the working-class neighourhood of Ard El-Lewa, Giza.

The 15-million-euro projects, which are being implemented by Egypt's Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises Development Agency since 2017, are funded by the EU and the AFD.

In a statement on Thursday, the Egyptian development agency said the delegation visited a drinking-water reservoir project, whose storage capacity is up to 6,000 cubic metres and provides water for 35,000 families living in the district.

The project costs EGP 24 million, the statement added.

Two projects are being carried out at the same district: one for replacing and renewing the water and sewage network at a cost of EGP 61 million; the other for delivering water from the under-construction reservoir to the water networks at a cost of EGP 25 million.

The projects aim to develop the infrastructure in the neediest areas through hiring semi-skilled and unskilled workers instead of using modern machinery and equipment, said Executive Vice President of the MSMEs Development Agency Tariq Shash.

Shash added the projects target providing both thousands of work opportunities for irregular workers and a proper environment to establish small and micro enterprises.