Egypt

Prime minister vows greater roles for local government

Egypt's interim Prime Minister Essam Sharaf on Monday said decentralizing government authority would help meet people's needs during the country's transitional period.

During a conference, Sharaf said granting additional authority to local governments will improve living standards and services.

He emphasized a need to consider local authorities' roles in development plans, the importance of decentralized decision-making and the creation of a new local government system that is in line with recent political changes in Egypt.

Egypt's Minister of Local Development Mohsen al-Nomani said work is underway to improve the country's local governments by looking at successful systems, particularly the French system.

Nomani said allocations for local development in the 2011-2012 budget have been increased by nearly 10 percent.

Meanwhile, French Ambassador to Cairo Jean Felix-Paganon said his country would provide Egypt with support in all fields, especially local development. 

The conference, "Toward a New Local Development," was organized in collaboration with the French Embassy in Cairo.

Translated from the Arabic Edition

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