Egypt's al-Sisi launches new capital project

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday (October 11th) attended the official launch of the new administrative capital, Ahram Online reported.

The mega-project, announced in March 2015, will include government ministries, residential units and an airport, and is part of the government’s plan to increase urban areas to deal with the country's rapid population growth rate.

Located some 40 kilometres to the east of Cairo, the new capital is intended to draw a population of seven million in its first phase.

Housing Minister Moustafa Kamal Madbouly said the country’s newly built cities are home to seven million people, or 20% of the urban population.

The "sustainable, smart capital" is intended to offer quality of life for Egyptians and change the perception that the low-income population only lives in ramshackle homes in slums, the minister said.

The new capital, built over 714 square kilometres, will be home to a government district housing 29 ministries, and other state institutions, including the cabinet and parliament buildings.

It will include an international airport, public gardens and parks that total 35 square kilometres, and a residential district offering more than 23,000 units.

A main developer behind the project is the Armed Forces Engineering Authority.

The ministries will start moving to the new city in 2018, with residents expecting to arrive at the same time. The project is set to be completed in 2020.

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