Cairo – Today the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the expansion of an energy efficiency program to help small and medium enterprises reduce energy costs. 

“USAID is committed to working with the Egyptian people to increase energy efficiency in Egypt,” said Jacinto Fabiosa, Trade and Investment Team Leader with USAID in Egypt. “If firms can improve their energy efficiency, they can save on energy costs – and become more competitive, grow their business, and create more jobs.”

To help Egypt achieve its national target of twenty percent improvement in energy efficiency by 2020, USAID implemented a pilot program to improve energy efficiency in twelve factories and ten small and medium enterprises in the food processing sector.  In coordination with the Egypt National Cleaner Production Center and the World Environment Center, USAID helped businesses experience between seven and twenty-eight percent energy consumption savings.  The program expansion will improve environmentally sustainable production in the textile industry and increase competitiveness in international markets.

This initiative is one facet of a comprehensive package of technical assistance from the American people that promotes job creation, economic recovery, private sector business growth, and a stronger trade and investment environment.  Over the past two years, USAID activities have led to new or better full-time employment for over 40,000 people and short-term jobs for another 20,000. These projects are part of the nearly $30 billion that the American people, through USAID, have invested in Egypt since 1975.