The legislation was approved by the joint committee, headed by Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee Chairman Mohamed Eid Mahgoub, alongside the bureaux of 17 parliamentary committees and government representatives.
One of the most significant amendments requires the House of Representatives, in a plenary session, to approve any decision establishing sustainable development zones. The provision was proposed by MP Ahmed Abdel-Gawad, head of the parliamentary bloc of the Nation's Future Party, as part of broader efforts to enhance parliamentary oversight.
Lawmakers also approved five new articles following parliamentary deliberations.
The bill grants the Future of Egypt Sustainable Development Agency, established under Presidential Decree No. 591 of 2022, administrative and financial independence, within a new civilian legal framework, to enhance its capacity to implement national development projects.
The agency traces its origins to the Future of Egypt agricultural project, one of Egypt's largest land reclamation initiatives. The project was launched under the supervision of the Egyptian Armed Forces to expand cultivated land, strengthen food security, and reduce reliance on imports.
Since its establishment in 2022, the agency has overseen strategic national projects in sectors including agriculture, food security, land reclamation, logistics, industry, and infrastructure.
The proposed legislation seeks to place the agency on a permanent legal footing as an independent civilian public authority, expanding its mandate to establish and manage sustainable development zones and attract greater private-sector and foreign investment.
According to the explanatory memorandum, the legislation is based on constitutional principles governing Egypt's economic system, including promoting sustainable development, encouraging investment, protecting economic activity, and strengthening the private sector's role as a key partner in development.
The bill also seeks to redefine the state's role in economic activity by creating greater opportunities for private-sector participation and international partnerships in sustainable development zones.
It aims to boost economic growth, increase production, create jobs, and strengthen Egypt's food and water security.
The proposed legislation forms part of the government's broader strategy to expand the agency's developmental and economic role in line with Egypt's sustainable development objectives and evolving economic challenges.
The draft law will now proceed to a plenary session of the House of Representatives for a final vote before being referred to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for ratification.
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