Egypt aims to become transport & logistics hub by 2024, says Transport Min Kamel al-Wazir

The Transport Minister of Egypt, Kamel al-Wazir announced that the nation will be converted into one of the key global centres for transportation and logistics by the year 2024 with the implementation of a comprehensive 10-year plan to revamp the country's transportation infrastructure. The country's transportation system would play a vital role in achieving sustainable growth, further transforming the image of Egypt, the minister informed the media on Sunday. 

Wazir went on to say that the 10-year plan, which started in 2014 and will continue till 2024, was created to improve the transportation and communication spheres with a total expenditure of 1.669 trillion Egyptian pounds which is nearly 106.3 billion U.S. dollars.  

The minister further described that the proposal includes 474 billion Egyptian pounds for the construction of roads and bridges, while 225 billion pounds have been allotted for railways. For building tunnels and electric traction, nearly 837 billion pounds have been allocated, 115 billion pounds for marine transport, 15 billion pounds for dry ports and logistics, and lastly, 3 billion pounds for river transit. 

Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir talks about Egypt's sustainable development Projects

Al-Wazir further stated that 1.295 trillion Egyptian pounds worth of developments have already been accomplished over the previous seven years, stressing that a large number of big projects would be done by the end of 2021, while others, such as the light rail train, will be finished by the end of 2022.  

Further, by the end of the year 2024, projects like the monorail, the high-speed electric train, and seaport constructions will be finished, al-Wazir stated. He even highlighted that by 2024, nearly 30,000 kilometres of new and improved roads will be finished.  

Egypt would be transformed into a regional and global gateway for transportation and logistics once the transportation and road system is complete in 2024, according to the minister, who also stated that the nation has planned to connect Egypt with other North African Nations, by building roads that will operate through Egypt, Libya, Chad, and Niger. 

Quoting Kamel al-Wazir, Xinhua reported, "Additionally, there will be Cairo-Cape Town axis which connects North Africa with South Africa...a river transport route reaching Lake Victoria will also be established." Furthermore, the minister has welcomed all Egyptian and international investors to administer and run railways around the country, and also to participate in all of the ministry's initiatives that are looking after various disciplines.  

On Sunday, a session was conducted to explore the financial, social, environmental, and health benefits of developing Egypt's transportation system, in which experts discussed the implications and repercussions of the massive transportation projects which are now being worked upon in Egypt. 

Image: Twitter/@Amcham_Egypt, Pixabay