Egypt, France seek to accelerate Alstom industrial complex

Egypt and France agreed to accelerate work on an Alstom industrial complex in Egypt, including a second factory that will manufacture metro trains and other rolling stock, the Egyptian Transport Ministry said on Monday.

Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir and his French counterpart Philippe Tabarot visited the complex in New Borg El-Arab City, which spans 40 feddans, the ministry said.

The complex comprises two factories. The first, covering 13 feddans, will produce electrical systems and is 77 per cent complete, with construction expected to finish in November 2026.

The second factory, covering 27 feddans, will manufacture rolling stock including metro trains, trams, light rail trains, monorails, and high-speed trains.

The ministers called for work on the second factory to begin and construction to be accelerated so the complex can start operating as soon as possible, while expanding production capacity to meet domestic demand and boost exports.

The complex has created about 1,000 direct jobs and 2,000 indirect jobs so far, the ministry said.

El-Wazir said the project would help localise railway and metro manufacturing in Egypt, reduce foreign-currency needs, transfer technology and expertise to Egyptian workers, and support exports to Middle Eastern and African markets.

“The project is part of the ministry’s plan to localise various heavy industries in Egypt,” El-Wazir said.

Tabarot said France was keen to strengthen cooperation with Egypt in the transport sector and welcomed the opportunity to visit the Alstom Complex in Borg El-Arab.

The ministers also reviewed the manufacture and delivery of 55 trains for Cairo’s first metro line, which are being delivered in stages as part of a plan to modernise the line’s rolling-stock fleet.