Alexandria City Development Strategy for Sustainable Development CDS

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Alexandria City Development Strategy for
Sustainable Development (CDS)
EGYPT

• Honorable Mohamed Bassiouny, Secretary General,
  Alexandria Governorate
• Ahmed Eiweida, Sr. Urban Specialist, World Bank
• Urban Forum
• March 10, 2005

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Alexandria, 3.7m inhabitants, on the northern
coast of Egypt, is one of the major cities on the
Mediterranean Sea and Egypts 2nd largest
metropolitan. It embraces a coast line of 70
kilometers and is home of 40 of Egypts
industrial establishments.
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City Endowments

• Cultural Heritage historic landmarks and
  archaeological sites from the Roman, Greek,
  Coptic and Islamic periods and cultures. Home of
  rebuilt Bibliotheca Alexandria.
• Tourism a hotel industry and a variety of
  attractions, including 70Km coast line, sandy
  beaches, recreational areas, host to some
  international, regional and local fairs and
  cultural events.
• Port Maritime 57 of total Egyptian port
  capacity.

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City Endowments

• Industry Commerce 4,417 establishments
  account for 35.8 of the city labor force and 40
  of Egypts industrial production.
• Enabling Business Environment Egyptian showcase
  for possible public-private partnership (PPP).
  Home of only two one-stop shops in Egypt and
  evidence of growing inward foreign investment.
• Civil Society Active NGOs, civic community, and
  private sector. One of the oldest and largest
  universities in the region.

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Challenges Facing the City Despite
extraordinary efforts exerted by the city
visionary leaders to develop Alexandria, the city
is still challenged by

• Need for improved living conditions and
  socioeconomic activities in 30 squatter
  settlements.
• Lack of long-term economic development vision
  strategy (only 25 of city population is active
  in labor market unemployment is 7-10).
• Environmental problems at Lake Marriout and
  potentials for redevelopment of a 200h prime
  land surrounding the lake.

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CDS ObjectivesCities Alliance Support May
04-Dec 05

• Economic Developing a medium to long-term
  economic development strategy. The strategy would
  investigate, and build on, the citys
  competitiveness to diversify and specialize the
  economic base of the city support productivity
  and encourage the development of an enabling
  business environment.
• Physical Developing an upgrading strategy for
  the squatter areas and Lake Mariout, within a
  sustainable urban development framework. The
  strategy would include specific measures for
  improved living conditions of residents,
  preventing further environmental deterioration at
  Lake Mariout, while improving municipal
  capacities to deliver services.
• A partnership Forum established and the CDS team
  is half way now into completing a vision and
  action plan for each component

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Bank Support of Implementation

• Quick win priorities identified during the CDS
  process are immediately shared with donor
  partners (WB, GTZ, UN-Habitat, GEF, WHO, SWISS,
  Barcelona, Marseilles, etc.) and prepared for
  implementation, e.g. GTZ supports local area
  initiatives and participatory budget in one
  district (EURO 1.00), GEF (8.00), Social Fund
  (2.00m).
• A World Bank team specialized in the areas of
  urban development, infrastructure, environment
  and private sector development is now working
  under the CDS umbrella and hand-in-hand with the
  CDS local team.
• Egypt Investment Climate Assessment increased
  firms samples in Alexandria and supplied
  disaggregated data.

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Bank Support of ImplementationAlexandria Growth
Pole Project (60.00m)Board date FY07

• Project Objective To support Alexandria
  Governorate, within the framework of the evolving
  CDS, in its efforts to attract private
  investment, address high priority investment
  needs for infrastructure, urban upgrading and
  creation of economic opportunities.
• To do so, the project will aim to enhance
  business climate and strengthen management of
  existing municipal assets, particularly land and
  properties that can be leased/sold or revitalized
  and converted into a more productive asset.
• The project will gradually alter the
  deconcentrated structured of the
  intergovernmental system into one that promotes a
  more active and decision-making role for
  localities in delivering services more
  efficiently and in growing the local economy.