Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held, on Monday, a Cabinet meeting to discuss activation of the new National Centre for Spatial Data Infrastructure, with the aim of controlling formal and informal urbanisation.
The Centre undertakes research in a variety of areas relating to spatial data infrastructures, spatial enablement, and land administration in order to support the sustainable development goals.
Madbouly also ordered the establishment of a spatial data unit in every governorate to monitor spatial changes, and to be linked with the spatial data system of the Armed Forces.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said, Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Sharawy, Assistant Minister of Planning for Digital Transformation Ashraf Abdel Hafeez, and Director of Military Survey Department Khaled Fawzi.
The Prime Minister noted that President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi directed for control of Egyptian urbanisation, to ensure adherence to building requirements and licenses.
For her part, Minister El-Said said that various governmental parties are coordinating to provide highly skilled cadres to operate the spatial data units.
Abdel Hafeez added that this project aims at creating an integrated national planning system, maximising resources, rationalising government spending, and follow-up on government projects and investments.
The project would also improve how government finance is spent, whilst preserving the state’s rights to monitor building violations and encroachment on land and agricultural areas. It also aims to facilitate the execution of government projects and investments, by facilitating the sharing and exchange of information and geographical data for government agencies.
