• ASCAME’s president, Mr. Ahmed El Wakil, was interviewed for the latest newsletter of the MAIA-TAQA project. Mr. El Wakil presides the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, which has recently hosted the MAIA-TAQA pilot project in Egypt.
• ASCAME is an active partner of the MAIA-TAQA project, which aims to increase resource efficiency in the Mediterranean by aiding innovation and developing solutions for SMEs. In this sense, the newsletter of the MAIA-TAQA project also highlights the role of ASCAME in fostering innovation and promoting sustainable development.
• We invite you to read the interview with Mr. El Wakil:

First of all, we would like to thank the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce for hosting the MAIA-TAQA pilot project in Egypt at the Al-America whole sale market. Would you please explain to us where you see the benefits of the project for the Chamber?

The Alexandrian Chamber, thanks to an EU CBC previous project, was the first Chamber in the world to operate using solar energy. The aim was not just economic and environmental benefit, but was most importantly to demonstrate to our members the advantages of pilot implementation. This could ultimately help them remain competitive.

Now through El Ameria Wholesale Market MAIA-TAQA, which is in line with the national integrated sustainable energy strategy, we continue to demonstrate this strength through replicating within the thousands of SMEs dealing with the Market.

The Chamber in this regard is conducting its role in leading innovation and supporting SMEs in innovative business.

During the preparation of the pilot project, do you have some lessons-learnt that you would like to share with us?

Though the chamber is a public law body, with strong connections to the government, and albeit communication with the relevant ministers and the Governor of Alexandria who provided full support, yet the procedures paperwork, and hence time between application till receiving the final Approval from Alexandria Distribution company was an issue which the chamber is working on advocating through a position paper aiming at easing such a process for SMEs.

How do you see the replicability of the project?

This project is not only a Pilot for wholesale markets all over Egypt; it is also a pilot for the whole retail sector, which is a large consumer of daytime electricity. This will assist in increasing their competitiveness and profitability, contributing positively to the reduction of greenhouse gases and global warming. Such a project is now more feasible after the rationalization of the electricity subsidy and the modern feed-in tariff laws.

It is simply a bold step forwards in spreading renewable energy all over the productive and service sectors.

You can read the full newsletter of the MAIA-TAQA project here.