The Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation announced in an official statement on October 3, 2019 that four Egyptian ministers held a meeting with the World Bank Group Support for Pollution Management headed by WB’s Regional Director in Egypt, Marina Wes.

Sahar Nasr, Minister of Investment; Mahmoud Shaarawi, Minister of Local Development; Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment; and Kamel Al Wazir, Transport Minister, discussed plans to reduce pollution with WB’s mission from their respective ministries’ projects.

Fouad asserted that during the meeting the ministers focused on improving the public transportation system in Cairo, through cooperation with the World Bank, in order to finance the replacement and the renovation of public buses to be operated either by natural gas or electricity, aiming to reduce emissions and air pollution.

Meanwhile, Shaarawi highlighted that there are 3,500 buses in Cairo that are powered by gasoline or diesel, which emit more air pollution, noting that these buses, as well as taxis, will be gradually changed to run on natural gas within five years. Also, there will be electric cars to avoid pollution.