CAIRO, July 6 (MENA) - Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli Saturday said that accelerating the implementation of the 100 Million Tress presidential initiative alongside expanding the green areas in the country are on the top of the government's agenda.

Directives have been issued to governors in this regard, following discussions with representatives of civil community, media personalities, lawmakers and researchers, in the presence of the minister of environment, Madbouli said.

The premier made the remarks during an inspection tour of Fustat Hills Park project where he was accompanied by Minister of Local Development Manal Awad, Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Sherif el Sherbiny, Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber and other officials.

The current phase of the project will see offering tenders of some facilities of the project for utilization by some companies, in order to make revenues that could be used for financing work for the completion of the whole project, Madbouli said.

He added that the investment and commercial area of the project is now ready to operate several ventures like restaurants.

Madbouli hailed the scale of green spots in the project, calling for their expansion and ensuring their sustainability throughout all stages of the project.

The government gives a top priority to speeding up the implementation rate of the 100 Million Tress initiative, in cooperation with NGOs, the private sector and research centers, he said.

The 100 Million Trees initiative is a joint effort between three governmental entities; the Ministry of Local Development, the Ministry of Environment, and the New Urban Communities Authority.

It aims to increase people's access to green spaces across the country, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gases, and increase overall public health. It is set to be implemented over seven years, ending in 2029.

The Fustat Gardens project comprises 18 areas and has 14 gates, Chairman of the Urban Development Fund (UDF) Khaled Sedeek said, adding that the project aims to revive Egypt's heritage and preserve the Islamic architecture in the area, through turning the old city of Fustat into an open museum that attracts tourists from across the world.

Launched in 2019, the Fustat Development project targets renovating areas surrounding Amr ibn Al-Aas Mosque, the Civilization Museum, Abu Al-Saud El-Garhi Mosque, and the Religions Complex and connecting them with the Fustat market, which houses traditional handicraft shops and workshops.

The Fustat Hills Park is the largest of its kind in the Middle East. Erected on an area of 500 feddans, the park is located in the heart of Historic Cairo and aims to create more green spaces.

The park project comprises setting up a heritage parks section, cultural section, historical section, adventure section, Egyptian flower garden section, and recreation center. It also make an "ecological leap" as the largest green space in the heart of Cairo. (MENA)

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