Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir on Sunday took part in a function in Alexandria marking the World Maritime Day 2026 held under the theme “From Policy to Practice: Empowering Maritime Excellence”.
The event is organised by the Maritime Transport Sector in conjunction with the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) observance of the occasion.
In his opening remarks, the minister said this year’s theme reflected the international maritime community’s recognition that the value of policies is measured by their ability to deliver tangible improvements in the efficiency and sustainability of the maritime sector and help it adapt to global changes.
Wazir said Egypt’s geographic location had made it a key hub for global trade, adding that the government had placed a strong focus on developing the maritime sector as a cornerstone of economic development. He added that the state has exerted great efforts to transform Egypt into a regional hub for transport, logistics and transit trade.
He said this was being pursued through a comprehensive programme to develop ports, infrastructure and logistics services in line with international standards.
Egypt is implementing eight integrated international development and logistics corridors linking Red Sea and Mediterranean ports and the Suez Canal axis with dry ports and industrial, agricultural and mining zones through railway networks, an electric high-speed rail network and expressways, El-Wazir said.
The corridors are meant to reduce handling times and costs, strengthen the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy and connect Egypt with the Gulf states, the Levant, Africa, and northern, eastern and central Europe and Asia, he added.
The corridors include the Arish-Taba corridor, Sokhna-Alexandria, Safaga-Qena-Abu Tartour, Cairo-Alexandria, Tanta-Mansoura-Damietta, Gargoub-Salloum, Cairo-Aswan-Abu Simbel and Bernice-Aswan-East Oweinat-Kufra-N’Djamena corridors.
Egyptian ports recorded strong growth in 2025, with cargo throughput reaching 233 million tonnes, up 12% from the previous year, while container throughput rose 25% to 11.1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), Wazir said, despite geopolitical conditions in the region.
Egypt rose to 19th globally in the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI), from 23rd in 2024, ranking first in Africa and second in the Arab world, El-Wazir said. Egypt aims to enter the world’s top 15 by 2030 through infrastructure development, increased operational capacity and efforts to attract shipping lines including Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM, he added.
As part of efforts to restore the strength of Egypt’s merchant fleet, the Transport Ministry is implementing a plan to reach about 40 commercial vessels by 2030, capable of transporting 30 million tonnes of cargo annually through its affiliated companies, including National Navigation Company, Egyptian Tanker Company, Cairo Ferries and Arab Bridge Maritime.
Wazir also reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to international conventions and IMO instruments, as well as efforts to develop legislation and institutional capacity, train personnel and implement advanced digital systems.
The World Maritime Day ceremony also featured a video address by the IMO secretary-general highlighting this year’s theme, as well as a film showcasing achievements in Egypt’s maritime transport sector.
