Government to launch development, housing projects in Halayeb and Shalatin

The government is planning to launch development and housing projects in Halayeb and Shalatin, including two ports in Abu Ramad and Shalateen at a cost of EGP 270 mn, Red Sea Governor Ahmed Abdallah told the press yesterday, Al Masry Al Youm reports. Work on the ports will begin next week and wrap within a year. The government will also launch an EGP 700 mn housing project in Abu Ramad, Halayeb, and Shalatin, for which the Tahya Misr Fund will contribute financing. The launch of the projects comes amid ongoing tension between Egypt and Sudan over ownership of the Halayeb and Shalatin triangle, which officials have been downplaying. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is scheduled to visit Khartoum at the end of the month.