President El-Sisi Opens Al-Asmarat 3 Project among Several Housing Projects in New Cities

In the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Ali Abdel-Aal, and some ministers and senior officials, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated the third phase of Al-Asmarat 3 Housing Project, including thousands of fully-serviced housing units with full facilities. The President also opened the largest service complex that would serve around 100,000 residents of the three phases of Al-Asmarat housing project.

President El-Sisi inaugurated several projects via video conference, which included “Dar Misr”, medium-income housing projects, in New Minya, El-Shorouk, 6th of October City, Sheikh Zayed, Borg El-Arab, El-Sadat City, and El-Obour City. The inaugurated new social housing projects are Badr City, Hadayek October, El-Obour City, and Gamasa City.

The President watched a documentary film entitled “A Smile of Hope”, made by the Armed Forces Morale Affairs Department. In this film, slums were displayed before their development. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stressed that such slums will no longer exist. The film showed the transformation of slums into safe residential complexes in various regions and governorates in Egypt. Over the past 4 years, the state has made enormous unprecedented achievements that have not been made before in the past 40 years.

The President stressed that if it had not been for the economic reform program and the harsh measures taken by the state since November 2016, the country would have gone through a difficult situation amid the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The economic reform program measures enhanced the state’s ability to stand strong during the previous stage, President El-Sisi added.

Over the past period, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stated that tourism, which yields a USD 14 billion revenue, was completely suspended in Egypt. Moreover, the Airline industry was hit hard; air flights were suspended, restricting the movement of individuals and trade.

The President confirmed that the harsh measures taken by the state primarily aimed at achieving the national interest.

The state has been considerably dealing with the phenomenon of illegal construction, stressing that allowing it is no longer an option, the President added.

President El-Sisi added, “The state will no longer accept slums increase… the resulting risks on the state are substantial,” stressing that the state has given a chance to violators. All state agencies must act to counter this issue, he emphasized.

President El-Sisi stated that 250 housing units have been built to re-house the residents of unsafe areas, noting that financing and payment-related facilities will be provided to citizens.

Concerning obsolete cars, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stated that they must run on natural gas, pointing out that the available materials must be used. Theoretically, we cannot license one million cars running on gas within a year or two, the President added. Converting obsolete cars from gasoline to natural gas costs EGP 8 billion, the president elaborated.

The Ministry of Interior and the state have the right to license cars running on natural gas at a specific time, the President added. He stated that new cars running on natural gas will only be licensed, saying: “This is the state’s right.”

The President noted that citizens should be encouraged to convert their cars from gasoline to natural gas, saying: “It is our right, as a country, to compel new car owners to convert their obsolete cars to run on natural gas when getting the car licence.” President El-Sisi called on the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohamed Maait, to facilitate all the procedures in this concern. The President also asked the ministers to present the initiatives mentioned today at a larger scale in all media.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi confirmed that every citizen in Egypt would receive an apartment if he asked for it. He added that the state would provide all the related-facilities, funds and support to every Egyptian citizen applying for a housing unit.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi added that any land encroachments shall not be tolerated, stating that strict building requirements would be set.

The President stressed that the phenomenon of unplanned construction under high-voltage lines cost the state about one billion pounds, explaining that all lines will be removed to eliminate the high pressure risks.

President El-Sisi has ordered the government to open registration for citizens in the two unprivileged areas hit by the earthquake to receive new residential units with larger apartments.

The president asked the Minister of Defense and Military Production and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Major General Mohamed Zaki, to allocate a land for establishing a new residential city for the residents of the earthquake-affected areas and other citizens seeking relocation.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi thanked the banks and Tahya Misr (Long Live Egypt) Fund for their contributions to housing projects. He also extended his thanks to the Ministry of Housing and the Urban Communities Authority, which bore the brunt of the burden to come up with this honorable work.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stressed that all closed garages under unused residential properties will be expropriated.

President El-Sisi pointed out that the suspension of building permits was 20 years late, explaining that this national security resolution aimed at reviewing population. He further noted that building permits would be granted in some places but with strict conditions and rules.

The President stated that EGP 280 billion were spent in 6 years (EGP 50 billion per year) in Cairo for improving the standard of living, saying, “We, Egyptians, must be well aware of what is being implemented.”

President El-Sisi gave directives to Minister of Housing Dr. Assem Al-Jazzar for increasing the volume of work and construction of various projects so as to provide job opportunities for people coming from abroad.

President El-Sisi added that such jobs do not require several skills. He added 60,000 housing units would be built in Alexandria in the next two years. Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly said in this regard, “We are to start this process in parallel with the projects that are underway to provide other job opportunities.”

President El-Sisi thanked all the ministers for the efforts exerted in those projects. Moreover, His Excellency called on the officials of Cairo and Alexandria to consider public bus stops in the two governorates in order to outline a new vision that includes the removal of these stops and having an underground garage instead.

President El-Sisi also called for developing a new vision for Saint Catherine City, including the axes and airports, saying, “The city of Saint Catherine is a historical city that is close to our hearts.”

President El-Sisi went on an inspection tour of several housing units in Al-Asmarat 3 project. He also inspected the city of youth in the third phase of Al-Asmarat neighborhood in Cairo. His Excellency stressed the importance of providing all the activities for young people. He also inspected several establishments carried out by the Ministry of Social Solidarity for the residents of Al-Asmarat.

President El-Sisi distributed gifts among children in one of the nurseries, during the inspection tour of Asmarat 3 project. His Excellency also signed a gift of one of the children.