Japan supports projects for utilizing agricultural residues

On Thursday December 25th 2014, Mr. Takehiro Kagawa, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, and Dr. Hamed El Mously, Chairman of The Egyptian Society for Endogenous Development of Local Communities, signed a grant assistance contract for Japanese Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Projects.

Chairman of The Egyptian Society for Endogenous Development of Local Communities, signed a grant assistance contract for Japanese Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Projects.

The grant of US$ 81,818 is extended by the Government of Japan for the purpose of expanding a carpentry workshop in Qayat village, Menia Governorate that depends on utilizing the remnants of pruning of palm trees such as palm midribs and leaves through processing them into wooden planks that are used to make furniture and different wood products. The Egyptian Society for Endogenous Development of Local Communities (EGYCOM) launched the pilot phase of this project in 2010 through two workshops in Qayat village, using technology and devices especially designed by Dr. Hamed’s students at the Design and Production Department at the Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University.

　　 　This project not only provides jobs for a large number of young people, but also plays an important role in the utilization of wasted materials found in the environment as an alternative to high-cost imported materials, contributing to reducing the environmental damage caused by the burning of agricultural residues.

At the ceremony the Ambassador expressed his hope that project expansion can help EGYCOM publicize this project as a successful model to be applied to other communities creating more job opportunities for youth, which he views as one of the most important elements for the future of Egypt.

The grant is extended under the Japanese government’s assistance scheme for Grassroots and Human Security Projects, which gives support to non-profitable organizations and NGOs in fields such as health, social care, education, environment and vocational training. This scheme was launched in Egypt in 1994, and around 150 projects have been implemented to date, totaling about US$ 7 million.