Regional Brief
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has had a long and fruitful relationship of over forty years with Egypt. Since 1971, UNIDO has implemented over 350 projects with the Government of Egypt. Many innovative projects and ideas have been implemented and were later shared with other countries as success stories.
The year 1999 marked an important further step in the relations between UNIDO and Egypt, with the opening of the UNIDO Office in Cairo. The Office, located in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, saw its mandate further increased in 2005 to that of a Regional Office, covering both Egypt and Libya.
In accordance with its thematic priorities, UNIDO has been active in the region on technical cooperation activities in the fields of:
- Poverty reduction through productive activities;
- Trade Capacity building; and
- Energy and Environment
With regard to recent activities, in 2009 UNIDO provided bridging funds for the continuation of ETRACE operations in view of additional funding, which was eventually mobilized from both the MDG-Achievement Fund and the Italian Cooperation for Development. These new funds enabled ETRACE to expand both nationally and regionally. In 2009 ETRACE undertook an initiative to address other strategic value chains such as aromatic and medicinal plants, which culminated in the signing of a project document after provision of funding by Swiss cooperation agency SECO in December 2010. Another milestone towards the sustainability of ETRACE was its institutionalization by Ministerial Decree in October 2009: ETRACE officially became the Agriculture and Agro-Industries Technology Center, part of the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s network of Technology Centers.
Belonging to the same network of Technology Centers, The Egyptian National Cleaner Production Centre (ENCPC) is another UNIDO success story. Established in 2005 by the Ministry of Trade and Industry in close cooperation with UNIDO, the ENCPC acts as a vehicle for promoting green technologies transfer and innovation for the Egyptian Industry. ENCPC provides technical assistance for technology transfer in the fields of resource efficiency, industrial waste valorization in addition to energy efficiency and renewable energy applications. In addition to that, the centre initiates the implementation of innovative designs and supports companies to carry out constant product development. The ENCPC has also been subcontracted for the implementation of the project MED-Test, a regional project designed and implemented by UNIDO and co-financed by GEF to address industrial pollution arising from land-based activities. The project offers technical assistance and training to a selected number of enterprises in Alexandria.
UNIDO has also recently witnessed an increase in the number of implemented Montreal Protocol projects. In addition, a new project aiming at managing climate change risk in Egypt has started, and preparatory assistance is being provided for the finalization of a large programme to improve industrial energy efficiency and to introduce the energy management standard in Egypt.
For more details on UNIDO’s work in Egypt please visit our selected activities webpage.
UNIDO has promptly adapted to the new political scenario and is engaging with the Government of Egypt to discuss current programme continuity, shape the programme within the next UNDAF cycle and design innovative projects that meet the evolving challenges facing the people of Egypt.
