Chinese Government provides RMB 30 million grant — via ETCA — for Sino-Egyptian Friendship Model School Construction Project (Linked to ID#72444)

Project narrative

On April 20, 2002, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and Egypt’s Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation signed an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), which committed RMB 30 million ($3.75 million) of grant funding for the Sino-Egyptian Friendship Model School Construction Project. This project involved the construction of a school in the 11th district within the 6th of October City (مدينة السادس من أكتوبر) in Giza Governorate. The school has 42 classrooms and a set of laboratories. It occupies an area of 11,268 m^2 and has a floor area of 6,256 m^2. It serves students in kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school. The ultimate purpose of the project was to promote Chinese language and history education among Egyptian youth. The school also seeks to provide Chinese language instruction so students can compete for jobs as the importance of Chinese language increases within and without Egypt. Additionally, the school seeks to deepen cultural exchanges and trade ties between Egypt and China. China State Construction Engineering Corporation was the contractor responsible for implementation. Construction commenced on December 18, 2006. The project was completed and the school was officially inaugurated on September 7, 2008. The school was inaugurated with the signature of a cooperation agreement between Egyptian Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, Fayza Abdul-Naga, and Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Fu Ziying. At the inauguration ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Wu Sike, and Egyptian Minister of Education Yosri El-Gamal mentioned that the school was the first to offer Chinese Language instruction in Egypt. Upon opening, the school accepted an initial class of 87 students from an applicant pool of 1,500. The 87 students were admitted to the school as its first kindergarten class. Tuition ranges between 350 and 1,000 Egyptian Pounds.