Minister of Transport Kamel el-Wazir said that mega transport projects being carried out across the country aim at facilitating the movement of people and goods with Africa.
Minister el-Wazir was speaking during the first session of the forum of the heads of African Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), which started in Sharm El Sheikh on Friday and will last until tomorrow, under the auspices of Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli.
Wazir reviewed regional infrastructure projects to link the region with Africa and improve continent’s competitiveness with the world.
El-Wazir said his ministry was racing against time to establish railway linkage with Sudan, noting that a contract will be signed in the near future in this respect with an international firm specialised in this field.
The minister said the railway line with Sudan will start from Aswan to Lake Naser then to Wadi Halfa in Sudan.
He added that the Sudanese officials hope to extend the line to the Sudanese capital Khartoum.
Minister Wazir added that the Matrouh-Salloum line will be extended to reach the city of Benghazi in Libya.
According to the minister, the Egyptian ports, railway lines and roads will be linked together to build a fleet capable of reaching African ports on the ocean and the Red Sea, pointing out that customs procedures will be facilitated to increase trade movement with Africa.
He invited African investors to take part in building a huge network of dry ports and logistical areas, referring to his ministry’s plan to establish nine new dry ports.
Addressing the forum, Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Manar said Egypt has been working on establishing companies and cargo villages in African countries to increase trade movement with Africa.
He also said that Egypt seeks to establish a flexible, safe and effective air passage to increase world aviation traffic to the country.
Manar added that Egypt has partnerships with many African countries including Sudan, South Sudan and Libya.
Meanwhile, in her speech to the forum yesterday, Minister of Trade and Industry Nevein Gamea said Egypt is keen to support development efforts in the African continent.
She added that Cairo was seeking to achieve regional economic integration with African markets.
The minister stressed the importance of activating joint continental action to achieve industrial and agricultural integration, enhance intra-regional trade, support small and medium enterprises, and create more jobs, in a way that would contribute to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2063 development agenda of the African Union.
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