Local development minister: Egypt taking constant steps toward comprehensive development

Local Development Minister Abu Bakr el Gendi said Tuesday Egypt is taking constant steps toward achieving tangible comprehensive development.

Thanks to economic reforms that have been adopted over the past four years, Egypt is now in the construction phase, Gendi said in his speech at the ninth conference of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM).

The two-day conference is held under the auspices of Prime Minister Sherif Ismail.

The event will focus on women empowerment and countering terrorism.

It will also highlight the role of municipal authorities in managing the files of immigration, climate change, energy and sustainable economic development.

ARLEM is a permanent, joint assembly, bringing together local and regional authorities from the three shores of the Mediterranean.

The objective of ARLEM is to give local and regional representatives of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership an opportunity to establish direct dialogue with the European institutions and the Union for the Mediterranean.

At the inaugural session held in January 2010, mayors of major cities and representatives of regions from the European Union and the Mediterranean partner countries underlined the need to go beyond existing traditional diplomatic relations by launching concrete co-operation programs.

ARLEM is composed of 80 members:

– The EU delegation is composed of members of the Committee of the Regions and representatives of European and international associations engaged in Euro-Mediterranean co-operation.

– The delegation of the Mediterranean partners is composed of 40 representatives of local and regional authorities appointed by the national governments. (MENA)