In an effort to cope with the changing environment, Egypt took great strides towards the expansion beyond the boundaries of the Nile Valley. The aim was to exploit available opportunities, establish new communities so as to achieve an overall improvement of the old valley’s environment and conditions.

Egypt’s breakthrough covered several regions such as Toshka, east of Port Said, north of Suez Gulf, Owaynat, Southeast of Aswan, Sinai, the Red Sea Eastern coast and the Mediterranean Northern coast.

Two of these expansions stand as models for the Egyptian endeavor towards a new era. The first is:

The South Valley Canal of Toshka

The South Valley Canal of Toshka which is located on Nasser Lake; a multimillion-dollar project established to pump Nile water from  Nasser Lake through the Western desert to the far outreaches of the Dakhla and Kharga oases. Upon completion of the project, it is anticipated that over one million feddans would be reclaimed, in addition to the establishment of numerous new industrial and tourist communities. This bold project would in effect create a new delta. President Mubarak stated that it is “The Project to Usher Egypt into the Twenty- First century”. It is expected to enhance the Egyptian people’s present and future welfare.

A comprehensive study was conducted over an 8 million feddans revealing the following results:

1. 510,000 feddans were graded class 1.
2. Total arable land in the Western desert is nearly 7.5 million feddans.
3. Total underground water ranges between 3.5 and 4.0 billion cubic meters/year.

1. Establish agro-industrial sustainable development within the new communities based on the optimum utilization of land and water in an area of about 1.0 million feddans in the first phase.
2. Diversify cropping patterns in order to include field crops, orchards, and vegetables as well as livestock. This is made possible due to the abundant high quality land resources. In addition to the adequate water characteristics and weather conditions especially during the winter. All of the previously mentioned factors ensure a continued diversity of crop, early harvest and market penetration. This in turn would encourage exports and local consumption.
3. Establish infrastructure in the fields of transportation, communication, archaeology, tourism, mining and energy.

The Sinai Development Project:

A second example of these mega projects lies in Sinai,where the Nile water will soon flow Eastwards and Westwards through El Salam canal. The project aims at optimum exploitation of the various available resources, including water, ores and raw materials. To this effect, many projects were completed especially in the areas of agriculture, industrialization, housing, and infrastructure.

Similar advantages were put in place at the so far less developed agricultural project of East Oweinat, located Southeast of Toshka close to the border with Sudan. In this area, substantial quantities of subterranean water are estimated to irrigate up to 5.8 million hectares. The government intends to invest US$ 1 billion for the cultivation of an initial 84,000 hectares. The cultivated land will be made available for the private sector’s investment activities. For example Sagric International company of Australia signed an agreement with the Egyptian PICO group, to provide farm development services in Toshka and East Oweinat. PICO already secured a 40,000-acre site for agricultural development in East Oweinat.

The evolution of the East Port Said project came as a result of the integration of infrastructure projects in addition to the determination to develop North Sinai.

The pressing need to expand Egypt’s port facilities led to consideration of various schemes allowing private sector involvement. The East Port Said project- known as Chark el Tafriaa- will provide Egypt with a modern container terminal, which is intended to become a hub for shipping in the Eastern Mediterranean.

A similar port and industrial free zone is under construction in the Northwest of the Suez Bay.

East of El-Oweinat Project

Laying Southwest Western Desert , the project land is irrigated with subterranean water proved to be available in very large quantities allowing agricultural expansion of a vast area of land. Many investment companies have already dug wells and installed advanced equipment.  The recently upgraded airport of East El Oweinat has greatly facilitated the transportation of agricultural crops grown there.

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