Egypt bans tree felling in nationwide greening drive as cabinet outlines broad policy agenda

Egypt has strictly banned the cutting down of trees and ordered a nationwide expansion of its urban greening initiatives, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced during a cabinet meeting in the New Administrative Capital on Wednesday. Madbouly directed the Ministers of Local Development and Environment to accelerate tree planting along main roads across all governorates, expanding on the “Greening Cairo” project initiated by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Governorates have been instructed to coordinate the afforestation of empty plots, utilising specialised consultants to select appropriate plant species while strictly enforcing the ban on felling trees. The cabinet meeting also covered extensive public sector recruitment plans.

Ahead of the new academic year, the government will appoint 43,000 new teachers in a single batch, marking the highest recruitment figure for the sector in recent years. The hiring drive follows a review of the education ministry’s fifth employment competition phase by Sisi, Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif, and Military Academy Director Major General Mohamed Salah El-Turky. Madbouly directed coordination between the education ministry and governorates to ensure school readiness, focusing on maintenance, textbook delivery, teacher availability, and attendance. On the economic front, the prime minister highlighted positive indicators, noting the Central Bank of Egypt’s announcement that net foreign reserves rose to $57. 21 billion by the end of August 2026. Reviewing a recent visit to the Suez Canal Economic Zone, Madbouly announced the inauguration of nine new factories and expansions backed by $85 million in investments. The new facilities are expected to create 2,000 jobs for Egyptian youth, utilise between…