Egyptian Minister of Local Development, Hisham al-Sharif

The Egyptian new Minister of Local Development, Dr. Hisham al-Sharif, revealed he plans to oblige the governors to develop a plan for developing their provinces and finalized it within 3 months.

Al-Sharif said, in an exclusive interview with Arabs Today, that he seeks through several mechanisms to make a qualitative leap in the governorates, and turning its villages from consuming to productive.

Each province will develop a plan, which includes the expertise of its youth, the ministry said.

"Through the voluntary councils, the plans will be developed by the sons of these provinces, which will include the aspirations and hopes that will be achieved through specific timetables, and then these plans will be submitted to the political leadership and the Prime Minister Sherif Ismail ,and all the ministries to put it into practice," he added.

He added that the ministry will support decentralization and it will come into force within days.

Concerning his top priorities, Sharif said that there are several files, including the demarcation of the border between the provinces, and the fight against corruption in localities and activating the role of inspection body, and the holding of local council elections in the provinces, which will be the first elections, since January revolution as well as the project of developing of the most needy villages.

He announced the completion of the first phase of developing the most needy villages, which reached 78 village, pointed out that his ministry aims to provide secure and stable jobs opportunities , and to encourage investment and development in the new governorates.