Egypt's state-run construction firm Arab Contractors has won a bid to develop Lebanon's Port of Tripoli and its facilities, Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Yasser Elwi announced on Thursday. Ambassador Elwi made the announcement during his visit to the port in north Lebanon, where he was received by Ahmed Tamer – head of Port of Tripoli – and a number of senior Lebanese officials. This step reflects Egypt's willingness to keep supporting Lebanon on all levels, notably in terms of developing its ports, he said. Egypt is seeking to implement a number of projects to enhance its economic presence in Lebanon, especially in the fields of technology and expertise exchange in the city of Tripoli, the ambassador added. Port of Tripoli is Lebanon's second largest ports after the Port of Beirut, spanning over 3 million square metres, where 450 vessels – carrying commodities such as iron, wood, and grains – are passing per year. It also contains a free zone with an area of 150,000 square metres. The Port is currently undergoing expansion projects, where a new 600 metre long berth is being built for container trade, with a rear zone area of 1,200,000 square metres, according to the official website of the Lebanese Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
