The Egyptian government has allocated EGP 6.8 billion to Sinai's development in its FY 2020/2021 plan, focused on bolstering the peninsula's economic and social advancement and stability, in addition to providing housing services and public facilities for citizens in North and South Sinai governorates.

Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said announced the allocation and its details Thursday as part of the “Citizen Plan” initiative in North Sinai.

The announcement comes as part of the nationwide launch of Citizen Plan in its second consecutive year, aiming to activate community participation and involve citizens in planning and follow-up across the country, according to El-Said.

El-Said added that Citizen Plan includes a detailed presentation of all development indicators and projects that are being implemented in each governorate. This will enable citizens to follow up on the implementation of these projects, whether in their governorate, city or village.

On Citizen Plan in North Sinai, El-Said explained that the number of development projects in the governorate now stands at 170, adding that the value of public investment in the governorate in the FY 2020/2021 plan stands at EGP 4.58 billion, an increase of 58.5 percent over the FY 2019/2020 plan.

This represents 1.8 percent of public investments distributed nationwide, indicating a growth rate of 45.8 percent in the investments financed by the public treasury and directed to the governorate, according to the minister.

About the sectoral distribution of public investments targeted in North Sinai as part of the FY 2020/2021 plan, El-Said added that EGP 1.8 billion, or 39.6 percent of the funds, will be directed to the housing sector and the development of informal settlements.

Further, EGP 565.6 million has been directed to irrigation, EGP 400 million to electricity, EGP 286.6 million to local development, and EGP 250 million to higher education.

Gamil Helmy, assistant minister of planning and economic development, said that there are several important development goals in the housing, utilities and urban communities sector in North Sinai, which include directing about EGP 646.7 million to drinking water and sanitation services, as well as EGP 200 million to develop informal areas.

A further EGP 66.5 million will be directed to the National Social Housing Programme in the region, according to Helmy.

As for North Sinai's local development targets under the FY 2020/2021 plan, Helmy said that EGP 87.2 million will be allocated to paving local roads, in addition to directing EGP 142.9 million to services to improve the environment.

Helmy added that EGP 55.5 million will be directed to strengthening electricity networks in the governorate.