Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol between Egypt’s Arab Contractors Company and China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), establishing a strategic alliance to implement major projects in Egypt and across the African continent.
The agreement was signed by Hassan Mostafa Kamel, Senior Vice Chairperson of Arab Contractors, and CSCEC Chairperson Zheng Xuexuan. The ceremony was attended by Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities; Dong Jian Guo, China’s Vice Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development; Abdel Khalek Ibrahim, Assistant Minister of Housing for Technical Affairs; Hesham Sheta, Chairperson of INCOME (CSCEC’s representative in Egypt); and Heba Abou El-Ala, Vice Chairperson of Arab Contractors.
Following the signing, Prime Minister Madbouly affirmed that the protocol reflects deepening strategic ties between Egypt and China, highlighting expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors. He emphasized that the current momentum in Egyptian-Chinese relations provides a strong foundation for advancing joint initiatives and shared interests.
Housing Minister Sherif El-Sherbiny described the agreement as a key outcome of Egypt’s recent high-level visit to China, which included extensive meetings with Chinese officials. During the visit, the proposed collaboration between CSCEC—one of the world’s largest construction firms—and Arab Contractors—Egypt’s leading state-owned construction company—was advanced to capitalize on their shared expertise and regional reach.
In a related development, Prime Minister Madbouly also attended the signing of a comprehensive operation and maintenance agreement for the Central Business District (CBD) in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital. The agreement, signed between the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) and an Egyptian-Chinese alliance represented by Horizon Management and Operations Company, aims to ensure world-class service delivery and infrastructure sustainability.
The agreement was signed by Amin Ghoniem, NUCA Vice President for Real Estate Affairs, and Qi Zhang, Managing Director of Horizon Management and Operations Company.
Minister El-Sherbiny explained that the agreement introduces a modern “Cost + Margin” management model—balancing service quality with operational sustainability. It enables the state to maintain full oversight through budget controls and regular reviews of technical and financial performance.
The agreement covers the maintenance and operation of critical infrastructure such as electricity and water networks, fire safety systems, and other essential facilities. It also includes cleaning, security, landscaping, and environmental monitoring services. All operations will adhere to strict technical specifications and legal standards, with ongoing performance monitoring and financial oversight.
El-Sherbiny noted that this approach reflects a shift toward integrated, high-efficiency urban management aligned with Egypt’s vision for modern, sustainable cities. He stressed that the agreement sets a new benchmark for managing public utilities, protecting state investments, and delivering services that meet the expectations of residents, visitors, and investors in the CBD.
He added that the contract underwent rigorous institutional review, overseen by a ministerial committee tasked with ensuring full compliance with legal and technical standards throughout the pre-contract and implementation phases.
“This marks a pilot model for smart, integrated urban management that we aim to replicate across the New Administrative Capital and other new cities,” El-Sherbiny concluded. “It represents a shift from traditional service models to sustainable frameworks based on performance, accountability, and governance.”
