The Finance Ministry in Egypt has prepared a draft law to amend some provisions on regulating the participation of the private sector in infrastructure projects, utilities, and public services, with a view to simplifying procedures, reducing the time-frame for implementation and providing more flexible mechanisms for contracting. The Cabinet approved the proposed draft and it was referred to the State Council for legal review.

The draft law aims to deepen partnership with the private sector by expanding the scope of work it may undertake in infrastructure projects, utilities and public services. The proposed amendments allow the private sector to operate existing projects by injecting funding for its rehabilitation or Develop and maintain them to ensure optimal utilization.

The statement added that the draft law includes the creation of a joint committee comprising representatives of the Ministries of Finance and Planning and the Central Unit to participate with the private sector to study the infrastructure projects provided by the administrative bodies to select the projects that can be implemented in partnership with the private sector after ensuring that they meet the required requirements.

The draft law also includes the creation of new mechanisms for contracting projects with the private sector, in line with the economic changes and ensuring the speed of completion of the procedures, such as contracting projects submitted by the private sector, by direct agreement, tender or limited bidding, Some stages of the pre-contracting procedures are to be a pre-qualification stage for projects that require prior qualification for those wishing to contract, and to reduce the duration of grievances from decisions issued in the pre-contract stage.