Chinese Government provides RMB 30 million grant for Freedom Experimental School Construction Project (Linked to Record ID#58829)

Project narrative

On November 11, 2006, the Chinese Government and the Government of Egypt signed an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), which committed RMB 50 million for the Fishery and Aquaculture Center Construction Project and the Freedom Experimental School Construction Project (see Record ID#58829). China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) subsequently approved an RMB 30 million ($5 million) grant (captured in Record ID#30970) for the Freedom Experimental School Construction Project and drew the grant proceeds in part from the November 11, 2006 ETCA. This project involved the construction of a school in the town of Shebeen El-Kom (Shibin El Kom or شبين الكوم), which is the capital of the Menofia Governorate in northern Egypt. The school has 50 classrooms and provides Chinese language and culture courses for students from kindergarten through high school. A design contract was issued on August 27, 2008. Then, on February 26, 2009, a construction contract was issued to China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC). Construction began in April 2009 and the project was officially completed and handed over to the local authorities in June 2010. The school became fully operational in 2013 with the capacity to accommodate 1500 students. Between 2009 and 2013, the Chinese Government also provided support for the maintenance of the school by granting $76,000 worth of IT equipment, including interactive smart boards, laptops, iPads, and electronic books (captured in Record ID#30971).