Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) has met Toyota Tsusho in Tokyo to discuss the timeline for inaugurating East Port Said's new roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) terminal, part of Egypt's wider push to strengthen its role as a regional automotive hub. SCZONE Chairman Waleid Gamal El-Dein met Toyota Tsusho executives in Tokyo on the sidelines of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), the authority said in a statement on Monday. The global consortium operating the facility includes Toyota Tsusho, France's Bolloré and Japan's NYK. The East Port Said RoRo terminal, being built on 212,000 square metres with a 600-metre quay and 170,000 square metres of logistics space, is expected to handle international vehicle shipments and support Egypt's plans to localise car manufacturing, the statement said. "The terminal will give the zone a major competitive edge and strengthen its role as a regional automotive hub," Gamal El-Dein said, adding that the project will help integrate global supply chains through SCZONE's network of ports and industrial areas. Toyota Tsusho reaffirmed its commitment to the project's timeline and expressed optimism about its launch, citing the consortium's global expertise in vehicle logistics. TICAD, held every three years and co-hosted by Japan and African partners, serves as a platform to boost trade, investment and development cooperation between Asia and Africa. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser
