Egypt and Saudi Arabia discussed ways to strengthen co-operation in transport, logistics and maritime connectivity to support trade and link the two countries to international corridors.
The talks took place during a meeting on Wednesday between Egyptian Transport Minister Lieutenant General Engineer Kamel El-Wazir and his Saudi counterpart, Saleh Al-Jasser, on the sidelines of the InnoTrans transport trade fair and conference in Berlin, held from September 22 to 25.
El-Wazir stressed the deep-rooted ties between the Egyptian and Saudi peoples, saying the relationship extends beyond diplomatic and economic ties.
He said Egypt’s development vision under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 provide broad opportunities for strategic partnerships in transport, logistics and other vital sectors.
The two ministers discussed strengthening integration between Egyptian and Saudi ports and developing international trade corridors to support trade between the two countries and with Gulf states.
They highlighted the importance of the Arab Southern Trade Corridor, which links Europe with Gulf countries through Egypt. The corridor uses the Egyptian-Italian Ro-Ro service between Damietta and Trieste, integrated logistics corridors to Safaga Port, and onward connections to Neom Port in Saudi Arabia through Egyptian national shipping fleets.
El-Wazir also said Egypt is planning eight integrated logistics corridors connecting production areas with seaports and linking Red Sea and Mediterranean ports through railway and road networks, dry ports and logistics zones.
The plan aims to strengthen Egypt’s role as a regional hub for transport, logistics and transit trade.
The ministers agreed to expand economic, investment and trade co-operation and make greater use of the two countries’ available resources.
They also stressed the importance of the Egyptian-Saudi Supreme Co-ordination Council in advancing bilateral co-operation.
