Suez Canal revenues worth LE400 million will be annually allocated to Port Said, Ismailia and Suez Governorates, the administration said in a statement Monday.
Authorities also said they will restore the free-trade zone in Port Said.
The decision comes as part of a package of measures that aims to develop the three governorates and provide job opportunities for young people.
“As part of the administration's interest in the three canal governorates of Suez, Ismailia and Port Said… the administration in the past several months exerted great effort to develop basic services in coordination with the Cabinet and governors of the canal governorates and communicate [in this regard] with political parties and civil society organizations,” presidential spokesperson Yasser Ali said.
The statement added, “Efforts culminated in a meeting the administration hosted on 3 February attended by presidential assistant Pakinam al-Sharkawy, the governors of canal cities, four ministers and three of the president’s advisors.”
According to the statement, a ministerial group including the ministers of local development, transport, and housing and utilities was formed to study the reinstatement of Port Said's free zone and discuss various development projects.
The statement said these decisions are a precursor to plans regarding other regions.
A civil disobedience campaign in Port Said continued on Tuesday for the third day against what the residents have described as negligence in carrying out investigations into the killing of dozens of residents during violence that erupted last month.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
