Standing as a key reference point for regional development and energy infrastructure linked to the Zohr field, the governorate of Port Said is undergoing a profound socio-economic transformation. As part of our local development initiatives, the Zohr Applied Technology School equips local young people with market-driven technical skills and practical training for the job market, which are essential for the growth and development of human capital. Through support for women’s literacy, micro-entrepreneurship, civic infrastructure upgrades and clean energy integration, Port Said exemplifies how historical heritage and industrial innovation can come together to foster more resilient communities, ready to build a better future. Eni’s approach to local development in Egypt is founded on long-term partnerships and a lasting commitment to creating value in the communities where we operate. Working closely with national institutions, authorities and partners, we support initiatives in technical education, sustainable agriculture and health. Our integrated approach contributes to youth empowerment, improved livelihoods and enhanced access to essential services. The aim is to strengthen the resilience of local communities, supporting their sustainable development priorities and their journey towards a just transition.
Egypt
2018 – present
Economic diversification
Education
Community healthOur local development project strategy in Egypt has two main drivers: geographical diversification and partnerships with cooperation agencies and civil society organisations with proven operational capacity. In Port Said, we take an integrated approach that combines access to energy, technical education and community health. We have replicated the Applied Technology School model in Port Said also in the governorates of Damietta and Matrouh, thanks also to the collaboration with the European Union and AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation). In the agricultural sector, two initiatives for sustainable agriculture and access to water have also been launched in Matrouh and South Sinai with the aim of improving farmers' resilience to climate change in desert areas. The success of these projects, highlighted by local authorities, has laid the foundations for an organic farming project in Matrouh reaching more than 700 farmers (launched in March 2025) and an agricultural development and biodiversity project in South Sinai.
Improving access to quality healthcare has been at the heart of our community health initiatives in Port Said. Through investments in healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment, workforce development and community awareness, we have worked to bring essential health services closer to communities while strengthening the capacity of the local health system.
One of the most tangible examples of this commitment is the establishment and enhancement of the Emirates and Al Garabaa health centres, which provide local residents with access to primary healthcare, emergency services, paediatrics, vaccinations and pharmacy services. These facilities play an important role in serving surrounding communities as well, recording more than 91,000 patient visits in a single quarter of 2025, highlighting their contribution to expanding access to essential healthcare services across Port Said. Alongside community-based healthcare services, we have supported hospitals in the governorate through the provision of medical equipment and targeted training programmes for healthcare professionals, helping strengthen the quality and availability of care in key medical specialties. Building on these achievements, our commitment has evolved towards strengthening healthcare workforce competencies at the national level. Through the Advanced Professional Training Center in Port Said and the development of a specialised training centre, we aim to address critical gaps in medical specializations, promote knowledge sharing and support the continuous professional development of healthcare personnel. This approach has also been extended to other settings through a pilot health system strengthening project, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) and the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) at New Heliopolis Hospital. The project is establishing a state-of-the-art hospital with a planned capacity of 450 beds and a comprehensive clinical model covering both inpatient and outpatient services. The hospital will provide specialised centres for cardiac care, orthopaedics and rehabilitation, neurosciences, oncology, and maternal and child health. The initiative supports the adoption of international best practices to enhance healthcare management, service quality and operational performance, contributing to a more efficient, resilient and sustainable healthcare system in Egypt. This integrated approach, from expanding access to community healthcare in Egypt to strengthening healthcare professionals' skills and healthcare management systems, reflects our long-term commitment to improving health outcomes and supporting more inclusive access to quality care.
Polimi Energy Week speakers
Students during the final ceremony of the course
Speech during graduation day
Closing ceremony and awarding of certificates to Polimi Energy Week participants
Building on the success of the Applied Technology School model in Port Said, we have launched a Tertiary Education project, together with Sewedy University of Technology, Politecnico di Milano and Eni Corporate University (ECU), to contribute to the country's energy transition by training specialised personnel in optimizing energy consumption in the industrial sector. The initiatives include the launch of a bachelor's degree programme in Energy Engineering Technology, the provision of scholarships, direct teaching by PoliMi and the establishment of a network of companies ready to take on students as apprentices.
While we have worked with our partners to ensure better prospects for young students, there is also a need to help improve the adaptability and economic development of local communities living in desert areas through sustainable agricultural practices. In particular, in the governorates of Matrouh and to extent to South Sinai, Projects’ activities have been carried out to improve and sustain access to water for domestic and irrigation use, introduce more sustainable and productive agricultural techniques in desert climates, and reduce inequalities through women literacy courses. Thanks to the support of local institutions and local partners, some of the products will be accessible to premium markets, thanks to high quality products certified and organic.
This success story continues on the ground through a strategic partnership with SEKEM in the Towards Organic Agriculture project, a civil society organization pioneering organic agriculture in Egypt. Working directly with target beneficiaries, the project delivers hands-on operational and community support, with SEKEM that leverages its deep expertise and established distribution networks to connect local produce with premium markets. Additionally, adopting organic farming practices enables local farmers to generate carbon credits, creating a resilient, long-term supplementary revenue stream for families.
Find out more about the initiatives we are working on to help achieve a just transition in an inclusive and transparent way.
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