The Canada Egypt Business Council hosted a seminar titled “Developing Egypt’s Transportation System: Opportunities and Challenges,” attended by Lieutenant General Eng. Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport. The event highlighted the government’s strategic vision for transforming Egypt into a global hub for trade and logistics.

In his opening remarks, Eng. Moataz Rasslan, Chairman of the Canada Egypt Business Council, emphasized that developing an integrated transportation system is the cornerstone of building a strong economy. He noted that the state’s current philosophy is centered on “connecting people with opportunities.” He added that transportation is no longer merely a means of moving people, but a key indicator of a nation’s ability to achieve sustainable development and leverage its strategic geographic location to connect resources with global markets.

Rasslan stated that, despite global economic challenges and disruptions to international supply chains, Egypt has continued implementing the largest infrastructure development program in its modern history. He stressed that countries with advanced transportation networks are better positioned to withstand economic shocks and attract foreign investment.

He also praised Egypt’s remarkable progress in the Global Road Quality Index, where the country advanced from 118th to 18th place worldwide, reflecting the scale of achievements realized in this sector. Welcoming Lieutenant General Eng. Kamel El-Wazir, Rasslan commended his distinguished career and leadership in delivering unprecedented progress across the railway, road, and port sectors.

During the seminar, Lieutenant General Eng. Kamel El-Wazir presented the Ministry’s strategy for developing Egypt’s transportation sector. He explained that the plan aims to increase railway capacity to serve two million passengers per day by 2030 while significantly expanding freight transport to support economic growth and improve the efficiency of the national transportation network.

The Minister also highlighted the expansion of green transportation projects, including the completion of Cairo Metro lines, the operation of the Light Rail Transit (LRT), the Monorail, and the High-Speed Electric Rail network, all designed to provide modern, safe, and sustainable transportation services while reducing traffic congestion.

He underscored the strategic importance of the new logistics corridors, particularly the Northern Arab Trade Corridor and the Southern Arab Trade Corridor, which will strengthen trade connectivity between Europe, the Gulf countries, and the Levant through Egyptian ports, further positioning Egypt as a regional hub for trade and logistics.

The Minister also reviewed the government’s strategy to localize the manufacturing of railway rolling stock in partnership with leading international companies, with the objective of deepening local industrial capabilities and reducing reliance on imports. He further highlighted the continued expansion of Egypt’s road network, which has reached approximately 31,000 kilometers, with particular focus on continental connectivity projects such as the Egypt–Chad Road, aimed at boosting trade with African countries.

Regarding the maritime sector, the Minister noted that the number of commercial seaports has increased to 19, with the addition of 70 kilometers of new berths. These developments are expected to enhance the capacity of Egypt’s ports to accommodate growing international trade while supporting yacht tourism and the reception of large vessels.

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Sherif El-Gabaly, Chairman of the African Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives and Member of the Board of Directors of the Canada Egypt Business Council, in the presence of a distinguished audience of investors, business leaders, and experts from the transportation and industrial sectors.