Sharq Al-Owainat
Encyclopedia
Sharq Al-Owainat is located in the New Valley Governorate of Egypt
. It is in the south-west of the country, between the Nile
and Libya
.
Along with Toshka, Sharq Al-Owainat forms part of the larger New Valley Project
which consists of building a system of canals to transport water from Lake Nasser
to irrigate the Western Desert of Egypt
.
The Sharq Al-Owainat project is part of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's election programme over the past decade and was inaugurated in 2001. It was introduced as the hope for future generations to escape the crowded and limited valley of the River Nile and establish new communities in the western desert. The project aims to attract investors to cultivate an eventual 240,000 feddans by 2017.
The initial phase of the project resulted in 27,000 feddans of barren desert land was converted to fertile
land. There are about 400 water wells
in the area with a further 250 under construction. There is also a nursery that includes 26 greenhouses.
Different agricultural ventures are being carried out, many of the high yield produce of the area are meant for exportation (mainly to Europe
).
The area has its own hospital, police station, telephone lines and television transmission. A power plant is current under construction in addition to a livestock
slaughter house and meat processing unit.
In August 2009, the UAE-based agricultural company, Janan, agreed a contract to cultivate 100,000 feddans (about 42,000 hectares) of land with wheat, corn and feed. This contract also included signing an agreement with the national airline
of Egypt, EgyptAir Express
(subsidiary of EgyptAir
), to operate a weekly flight from Cairo International Airport
to Sharq Al-Owainat Airport
in order to serve the movement of workers and investors to encourage agricultural investment in the region. The flights began 01 November 2009 for an initial 1-year period.
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. It is in the south-west of the country, between the Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
and Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
.
Along with Toshka, Sharq Al-Owainat forms part of the larger New Valley Project
New Valley Project
The New Valley Project consists of building a system of canals to carry water from Lake Nasser to irrigate the sandy wastes of the Western Desert of Egypt, which is part of the Sahara Desert. In 1997 the Egyptian government decided to develop a "new" valley where agricultural and industrial...
which consists of building a system of canals to transport water from Lake Nasser
Lake Nasser
Lake Nasser is a vast reservoir in southern Egypt, and northern Sudan, and is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Strictly, "Lake Nasser" refers only to the much larger portion of the lake that is in Egyptian territory , with the Sudanese preferring to call their smaller body of water...
to irrigate the Western Desert of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
The Sharq Al-Owainat project is part of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's election programme over the past decade and was inaugurated in 2001. It was introduced as the hope for future generations to escape the crowded and limited valley of the River Nile and establish new communities in the western desert. The project aims to attract investors to cultivate an eventual 240,000 feddans by 2017.
The initial phase of the project resulted in 27,000 feddans of barren desert land was converted to fertile
Fertile
The term fertile describes a condition whereby organisms are able to produce physically healthy offspring.Fertile may also refer to:...
land. There are about 400 water wells
Wells
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
in the area with a further 250 under construction. There is also a nursery that includes 26 greenhouses.
Different agricultural ventures are being carried out, many of the high yield produce of the area are meant for exportation (mainly to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
).
The area has its own hospital, police station, telephone lines and television transmission. A power plant is current under construction in addition to a livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
slaughter house and meat processing unit.
In August 2009, the UAE-based agricultural company, Janan, agreed a contract to cultivate 100,000 feddans (about 42,000 hectares) of land with wheat, corn and feed. This contract also included signing an agreement with the national airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
of Egypt, EgyptAir Express
EgyptAir Express
EgyptAir Express is a regional airline based in Cairo, Egypt. It was established in 2006 as a regional jet subsidiary of EgyptAir and launched operations on 1 June 2007....
(subsidiary of EgyptAir
EgyptAir
EgyptAir is the flag carrier airline of Egypt and a member of Star Alliance. The airline is based at Cairo International Airport, its main hub, operating scheduled passenger and freight services to more than 75 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas...
), to operate a weekly flight from Cairo International Airport
Cairo International Airport
Cairo International Airport is the busiest airport in Egypt and the primary hub for Star Alliance member EgyptAir. The airport is located to the north-east of the city around from the business area of the city.The airport is administered by the Egyptian Holding Co...
to Sharq Al-Owainat Airport
Sharq Al-Owainat Airport
Sharq Al-Owainat Airport is an airport serving Sharq Al-Owainat which is located in Western Desert of Egypt. The airport caters to the New Valley Governorate.In 2009, the airport served 8,004 passengers .-Operations and facilities:...
in order to serve the movement of workers and investors to encourage agricultural investment in the region. The flights began 01 November 2009 for an initial 1-year period.
See also
- Sharq Al-Owainat AirportSharq Al-Owainat AirportSharq Al-Owainat Airport is an airport serving Sharq Al-Owainat which is located in Western Desert of Egypt. The airport caters to the New Valley Governorate.In 2009, the airport served 8,004 passengers .-Operations and facilities:...
- Al Wadi al JadidAl Wadi al JadidNew Valley Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the southwestern part of the country, in the Libyan Desert section of the Sahara - between the Nile, northern Sudan, and southeastern Libya....
- Toshka
- New Valley ProjectNew Valley ProjectThe New Valley Project consists of building a system of canals to carry water from Lake Nasser to irrigate the sandy wastes of the Western Desert of Egypt, which is part of the Sahara Desert. In 1997 the Egyptian government decided to develop a "new" valley where agricultural and industrial...