German Ambassador in Cairo Cyrill Nunn discussed with Egypt's Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir ways of cooperation in establishing a control system for the diesel-powered railway network and the modern electric one, according to a statement released by the transport ministry on Tuesday. In a meeting on Tuesday, Nunn and El-Wazir discussed joint cooperation in launching a training, overhaul, and maintenance centre for the railway system to train Egyptian engineers on the latest railway technology and high-speed trains at the hand of German experts. Hailing the mega projects undertaken by Egypt recently in the transport sector, Nunn expressed German companies' interest in strengthening cooperation with Egypt in the maritime transport sector. Nunn pointed out that Egypt's policies of developing the transport and railways sector, after carrying out an overhaul of the electric power network, is the same trend followed by developed countries globally. The ambassador praised German companies working in the maritime transport field in Egypt based on the memorandum of understanding signed between Germany's Eurogate and Italy's Contship to manage, operate, and maintain the second container terminal in Damietta Port. He also added that the German logistics companies DB Schenker and Deutsche Post DHL are interested in cooperation with Egypt in the field of transporting goods and establishing logistical areas. Meanwhile, El-Wazir praised collaboration between Egypt and Germany's Siemens in the transport sector in establishing an integrated system for a high-speed electric railway in Egypt. The German Siemens project includes the immediate establishment of a railway line linking Ain Sokhna with the New Alamein city, passing through the New Administrative Capital, as well as 15 stations. The two officials also discussed the latest developments in training 160 Egyptian engineers and technicians in collaboration with German construction equipment manufacturer Herrenknecht on tunnel boring machines. El-Wazir stressed that the Egyptian government follows a comprehensive plan to maximise the system of goods transportation via railways, inland ports, and logistical areas to serve the business community. These ports, according to El-Wazir, are being constructed on a scientific basis. The minister added that Egypt is currently undertaking new mega transportation projects that will link Egypt with neighboring countries. He cited as an example Egypt and South Africa's Cape Town axis, which passes through nine African countries with a length of 10,228 kilometres, 1,155 of which are inside Egyptian territories. The minister also said that Cairo aspires to complete a land road project between Egypt and Chad. Moreover, according to El-Wazir, Egypt plans to establish a road linking Egypt's Aswan and Toshka with Sudan's Wadi Halfa, as well as a road that links Egypt's Alexandria and Salloum with Libya's Benghazi.
