Egypt’s first Climate and Environment Investment Forum was held on September 12 with the support of the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and with funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
The forum aimed to strengthen Egypt’s investment landscape by presenting opportunities and building partnerships among traditional and non-traditional financial institutions, investors and companies. The initiative supports the Ministry of Environment’s vision for a low-carbon, resilient economy capable of responding to climate change.
Turning COP27 outcomes into action
Prime Minister Dr Mostafa Madbouly opened the forum’s first edition. He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to turn the outcomes of COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh into practical measures for Egypt, African nations and developing countries more broadly.
Dr Yasmin Fouad, Minister of Environment, chaired the session “Integrated Waste and Sustainable Energy Management.” The session explored environmental and climate success stories and investment opportunities. Participants included Dr Tarek El-Araby, Head of the Waste Management Regulatory Authority; Mrs Kerstin Deji, EU Green Project Manager at GIZ; Mr Ahmed Hassan, ABB Local Business Area Manager for Egypt and North and Central Africa; Mr Robert Valk, CEO of Renergy Group Partners; Mrs Heba Nayel, CEO of Papyrus; and Mr Moussa Khalil, CEO of Mozna. Dr Dalia Saqr, an expert in circular economy and climate change, moderated the session.
Waste-management investment opportunities
Dr El-Araby reviewed progress following Egypt’s waste-management law in 2020 and its executive regulations in 2022. The Waste Management Regulatory Authority is responsible for specifications, cost-effective studies and investment plans for waste projects.
He identified opportunities to convert waste into fodder and medicinal gelatin, recover biological minerals from e-waste, recycle used cooking oils into biodiesel, produce alternative fuels from municipal and agricultural waste to reduce carbon emissions at cement factories, generate green hydrogen from waste, and turn sewage stations into sources of electricity and alternative fuels. He also noted the incentives available through Egypt’s new investment laws and the “golden license”. Renergy Group Partners initiated the first waste-to-energy project in Abu Rawash.
Renergy Group Partners’ contribution
Mr Valk thanked Dr Fouad for the invitation. He welcomed Egypt’s growing interest in environmental and climate investment, particularly in municipal and medical waste, praised the country’s progress in waste management and expressed Renergy Group Partners’ interest in cooperation on human development, waste management and capacity-building projects.
