British firms, UK Export Finance committed to develop Egypt’s railway system – Ambassador

Britain’s export credit agency UK Export Finance (UKEF) and British companies are committed to contribute to the development of Egypt’s railway system to become more sustainable and efficient, said British Ambassador to Cairo Geoffrey Adams on Tuesday.

Adams made his remarks during his meeting with Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel el-Wazir that aimed to discuss current and future cooperation, including railway, electric traction, and subway system projects.

The UK is also developing the new monorail system in Cairo, the ambassador added noting that such projects create job opportunities for both Egyptian and British people.

These projects also offer clean and more environmentally-friendly transportation, which are essential to achieve climate-related goals, Adams said.

A consortium led by Bombardier Transportation, which is now part of Alstom, confirmed an agreement with the Egyptian government in January to build two new monorails in Cairo.

The agreement is the outcome of government financing from UKEF worth £1.7 billion ($2.4 billion). The UK said the financing is its largest ever provided for an overseas infrastructure project.

During the meeting, el-Wazir and Adams affirmed that the two trains will be delivered to Egypt by next September.

They also discussed a UKEF-funded agreement to export 50 new locomotives to Egypt and develop 50 more. The agreement was concluded between the Egyptian National Railways (ENR) and the U.S.-based Progress Rail Locomotives in 2018.

Moreover, el-Wazir and Adams discussed the willingness of Hitachi Rail STS, through its branch in the UK, to manufacture and export 200 sleeper railcars to Egypt.

The British ambassador also affirmed that the U.S. Bechtel Corporation, through its UK branch, is set to provide the Egyptian transport ministry with technical and financial support during the first week of July to upgrade Cairo metro’s sixth line.