Egypt

This is an overview of the causes as well as possible solutions for traffic congestion in Cairo, taken from a Cairo Traffic Congestion Study (Phase 1) which is available... Show More + as report number 71845. This overview also provides potential solutions, based on the work of the ongoing Phase II of the Cairo Traffic Congestion Study and previous studies, including the World Bank's Proposed Urban Transport Strategy for Greater Cairo. It describes the many casuses for traffic congestion, from fuel subsidies to poor traffic planning. The economic costs could be as high as 4 percent of GDP. Solutions include improving public transport and making the use of private vehicles expensive. Improving traffic management and using traffic lights can be implemented quickly. Longer lasting and sustainable solutions include the expansion of the public transport system and revision of transport pricing. Show Less -

The objective of the El-Ain Al-Sokhna 2x650 MWe Gas/Oil Thermal Power Project for Egypt is to identify the environmental and social impacts of construction and operation... Show More + of the project. Negative measures include: noise, air pollution, water quality, solid and hazardous wastes, traffic and local roads, and flora and fauna. Mitigation measures include: (a) with respect to noise generated from ground traffic and equipment, the predication should be superimposed to all noise sources; (b) the power plant should adopt practices of solid and hazardous wastes as per the solid waste integrated management philosophy; (c) practices of water disinfection and tank cleaning should be adopted in order to improve drinking water quality; (d) wastewater from the new Al-Sokhna power plant will be disposed of through the plant sewer and the Ettaqa sanitary network in the near future; (e) the risks of flooding during power plant construction and operation were also examined. However, site drainage will be constructed to minimize any risks of contaminated water reaching the surroundings and to properly drain the site, no significant flood risk impacts are anticipated; and (f) the traffic count points shall be selected very efficiently. Show Less -

Shubra el-Kheima has been one of the fastest growing cities in Egypt, where the textile, and garment industry played an important role in generating this growth. The... Show More + paper describes how this industry was initiated, and developed, the major structural changes occurred, and the problems the industry faces. A description of the city's population growth, and the state of public services follows, as well as an outlook on the role the government played in fostering, or hindering the industry's growth. One of the main problems affecting the textile industry, was the high cost of producing coarse cloth, on the basis of high quality domestic cotton: the short staple cotton produced elsewhere, was ideal for cheap cloth, and hence cheap garments; but the government (from the 1930s to the 1990s) banned the import of this cotton, and, concentrated on the export of fabric, which as of 1948, an export tax was imposed on all varieties of cotton. Yet, as of the 1950s, cotton yarn production experienced a rapid growth, and exports provided the major stimulus for its production growth. However, it is important to note that this export market was not functioning at prevailing world prices. Whereas in the 1980s', small garment factories and shops rapidly emerged stimulated by exports, in Shubra el-Kheima it was local demand which drove growth - the Cairo private sector wholesale and retail markets, and large local informal markets. Regrettably, the Government has not played a positive role, neither in facilitating the industry, nor in servicing the growing city, a sharp contrast with its attitude towards industries in new industrial cities, and the effects of trade liberalization, can make it difficult for the city's industry to survive. Show Less -