The Egyptian government is keen on promoting cooperation with the private sector to establish and develop new cities, Mostafa Madbouly, the acting premier and housing minister, said on Tuesday.

Madbouly made the remarks while delivering a speech at a session that was held on the sidelines of a conference organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt about the real estate industry.

The New Urban Communities Authority has recently launched the second phase of projects in partnership with the private sector to establish a number of urban and service activities in four new cities, namely New Cairo, the 6th of October city, Sheikh Zayed and Marina South, he said.

The establishment of the New Administrative Capital is part of a development plan aimed at accommodating the increasing number of Egypt's population, Madbouly noted.

"The Egyptian government seeks to establish a new generation of smart cities in Egypt," he said, adding that it is the time now to set up new cities while opting for up-to-date technologies