government approves decrees on developing Sharm el Sheikh Airport, facilities, education

The government, headed by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, endorsed on Tuesday a presidential draft decree approving a loan deal between the Egyptian government and the African Development Bank to finance a project to develop Sharm El Sheikh International Airport.

The loan, worth 90 million US dollars, was signed in Cairo on May 29.

The project aims at increasing the capacity of the airport to increase the number of tourists coming to Sinai.

The cabinet also approved a presidential draft decree to amend a convention on assistance signed in Cairo between Egypt and the US on September 15 on the management of Egyptian facilities.

The amendment adds about 5.5 million dollars as a contribution from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to continue achieve the goals of the project, which are improving the water and wastewater sectors in Alexandria and Upper Egypt.

The cabinet, in the meantime, approved presidential draft decrees to amend conventions on assistance signed with the US on primary education, sustainable investment in tourism in Egypt, and the higher education.

The amendments allow more funds from the USAID to complete the activities of the projects.