Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a decree approving an agreement between Egypt and the European Investment Bank (EIB). The deal aims to develop the first line of Cairo Metro, according to Egypt Today on Thursday. Marg-Helwan , inaugurated in 1987, the first metro line in the Egyptian subway system. Under the agreement, EIB will lend Egypt €350 million to develop the carriages of the first line. The deal was inked in December of 2018. The decree was published in the Gazette out Thursday. A €205 million ($238 million) deal in 2018 has been inked between the Egyptian government and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to renovate the oldest line of Cairo's metro system. Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly and Transport Minister Hisham Arafat witnessed the ceremony of signing of the deal between Investment Minister Sahar Nasr from the Egyptian side, and Janet Heckman, Managing Director, Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) at the EBRD, said a Thursday statement by the Investment Ministry. Moustafa Madbouly assured the government's keenness to upgrade the transport system, citing the efforts exerted to develop the subway system given that millions of commuters are using it across Cairo. The renovation project aims to restructure the railway infrastructure of the first line, railway tracks and renovating the stations. It also includes developing lighting, electromechanically, communication and central control systems. Arafat explained: “The development works of the first line is divided into two phases. As per the agreement, the first phase will cost €751 million: €205 million from EBRD and €350 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB); €50 million from the French Development Agency (AFD) and €146 million will be funded locally.” While the second phase of the renovation includes purchasing mobile units at a cost of €650 million.
