EBRD, Hyundai Rotem boost Egypt youth skills in transport infrastructure maintenance
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced on Tuesday it had teamed up with Hyundai Rotem to enhance the applied skills of young people in Egypt.
Under the EBRD-Rotem programme, a certified training in the maintenance of transport infrastructure and rolling stock was delivered in five batches to 80 young women and men.
The training focused on topics related to the maintenance of rolling stock for Cairo Metro Line-II.
The hybrid curriculum blended theoretical, classroom-based studies with more practical, on-site training, an EBRD statement added. The structure enabled the trainees to gain relevant skills and hands-on experience of rolling-stock management, preparing them for employment in asset-intensive sectors such as the metro, railways, and transport utility industry.
The scope of the training was devised by Hyundai Rotem, in combination with international and local trainers, aiming to ensure the use of best international practice in the sector. The trainees received a certificate once they have completed their training and passed a written examination.
The EBRD-financed Cairo Metro Line-II purchase of trains project is a major infrastructure initiative. In 2016, the bank signed a loan agreement for up to €100 million for the purchase of six air-conditioned trains and two locomotives in favour of the Cairo Metro Line II. EBRD’s financing was earmarked for the purchase of rolling stock, including spare parts and maintenance equipment, but also came with an important commitment from the Egyptian authorities to support a youth training programme in the first 18 months of implementing the maintenance contract.
