USAID Egypt, in collaboration with the US Embassy in Cairo, is expanding its activities towards energy efficiency. In specific, USAID aims at helping small and medium enterprises improve energy efficiency, which will also allow them to reduce their energy costs and benefit the environment. The savings will boost the businesses, create more employment, and become more competitive on the market.
The pilot program, implemented in collaboration with the Egyptian Industrial Development Authority, the Egyptian National Cleaner Production Center, and the World Environment Center, was launched in 2013 and targeted 10 factories and 12 small and medium enterprises operating in the field of food processing, and so far has helped businesses decrease their energy costs between 7% and 28%. The project reduced costs through investments in more energy efficient equipment, as well as conserve energy through insulation, leakage reduction and other measures. The expansion will target the textile sector.