Inside Egypt's ambition to become a regional hub

Egypt, positioned at the nexus of Africa, Europe, and Asia, is ambitiously positioning itself as a regional hub for transport, logistics, and transit trade. Kamel Al-Wazir, the Egyptian Minister of Transportation, explains that the government is leveraging the country's strategic geographical advantage beyond just seaport revenues. The ultimate objective is to stimulate economic growth, create employment, and boost exports through the expansion of logistics, storage, and international trade-related industries.

Egypt's maritime sector has undergone significant modernization in the past decade, with the establishment of five new ports, increasing the total number of commercial ports to 19 and the overall port area to 100 million square meters. Plans are underway to establish 33 additional dry ports and logistics zones. Investments in the ports sector and its hinterland will be made entirely with Egyptian capital, though private investors can assist with management and operation.

On land, Egypt has constructed 7,500 km of new roads, upgraded 10,000 km of existing routes, built 35 new Nile crossings, and added 1,000 overpasses and tunnels, enhancing its attractiveness to foreign direct investment. The transportation sector is now a key driver of Egypt's Vision 2030, a national development plan aimed at transforming the country into a diversified, competitive economy.

Egypt is prioritizing the expansion of its railway sector, recognizing its energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions compared to road haulage. The ministry's six-pillar plan for modernization includes upgrading rolling stock, improving infrastructure, overhauling signaling systems, enhancing human resource development, and restructuring administrative and financial frameworks.

Targets include doubling passenger transport capacity to 2 million passengers per day and freight transport capacity to 15 million tons annually by 2030. Construction on Egypt's high-speed electric railway, dubbed the "Suez Canal on Rails," is underway, with trial operations for the first line expected in September or early October 2025.