Osama Rabie, Chair of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), met with Zhang Jinming, Vice Chair of China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC)—a subsidiary of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), one of the world's largest marine industry leaders—to discuss potential cooperation on developing the Authority's shipyards and subsidiaries using the latest global technologies. The initiative comes in line with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's directives to maximise SCA assets and advance localisation of marine industries. At the outset of the meeting, Rabie reaffirmed the Authority's commitment to localising the marine industry across all its fields and restoring the leadership of its shipyards and subsidiaries. He stressed that partnerships with leading global shipyards would enable the transfer of advanced expertise and technology, strengthen technical capacities in equipment, facilities, and infrastructure, and provide specialised training programmes to develop both administrative and technical staff. Rabie highlighted that the Suez Canal Authority possesses a broad industrial base, including several shipyards and companies active in the construction and maintenance of diverse marine units. With their strategic locations, technical capabilities, and skilled human resources, these assets position the Authority to meet local market demand and compete regionally in the near future. For his part, CSTC Vice Chair Zhang Jinming expressed strong interest in joint cooperation with the Suez Canal Authority, emphasising its potential to form a new pillar supporting strategic relations between Egypt and China. He noted that collaboration with CSTC could significantly enhance operational and administrative efficiency across SCA's shipyards, drawing on the group's integrated solutions and deep expertise in training, mechanisation, technical consultancy, and provision of supplies and spare parts. Concluding the meeting, Rabie directed the immediate launch of a comprehensive development study, to be prepared following information exchange and field visits to the Authority's shipyards and subsidiaries, with the aim of identifying the optimal development approach in line with market needs. It is worth noting that CSTC is one of 47 subsidiaries of CSSC, which is ranked among the world's largest marine industry groups. CSSC's network includes shipyards, research centres, and consultancies, with operations spanning 150 countries across five continents.
