Monday 30 Dec
Engineer Kamel El-Wazir, Minister of Industry and Transport, discussed with Engineer Nassif Jassim Al-Khattabi, Governor of Karbala, Iraq, ways of cooperation between the two sides in various fields of transportation. The meeting was attended by a number of leaders from the Egyptian Ministry of Transport and the Iraqi Karbala Governorate.
El-Wazir noted that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi directed the immediate implementation of all aspects of cooperation with Iraq and the fulfillment of all demands of the Iraqi side. The country experienced a significant renaissance across all sectors, including transportation (roads, tunnels, railways, airports, ports), urban development (residential cities), and vital infrastructure (water, electricity). Egyptian companies also successfully implemented major projects in numerous Arab and African nations.
He highlighted that the Egyptian
government's focus on large-scale infrastructure development arises from the
recognition of its critical role as the foundation of the national economy.
Infrastructure serves as the primary enabler for growth in key sectors such as
industry, agriculture, and tourism. He emphasized that Egypt boasts a strong
pool of domestic companies and consulting firms capable of competing on an
international level. These entities are eager to contribute to Iraq's
development across various sectors and possess the capacity to successfully
execute complex infrastructure projects. The Minister commended the successful
track record of several companies, such as Samko and the General Egyptian
Contracting Company, in delivering high-quality road and bridge projects in
Iraq within record timelines.
The Governor of Karbala emphasized
the strong ties between Iraq and Egypt, commending the remarkable progress underway
across all sectors under President Sisi's leadership. He noted that Egypt's
ambitious infrastructure projects, both completed and ongoing, are a source of
national pride and serve as an inspiring model for success. He also praised the
New Administrative Capital, describing it as a stunning global city.
Both parties then explored
avenues for collaboration, specifically focusing on leveraging the expertise of
Egyptian companies in urban transportation, information technology, and the
construction of modern mass transit systems and infrastructure projects within
Karbala.
The Governor of Karbala highlighted the profound impact of his current visit to Egypt, where he witnessed firsthand the impressive scale and sophistication of Egypt's infrastructure projects. He cited the light rail transit (LRT) system with its state-of-the-art central exchange station at Adly Mansour, which integrates five modern modes of transport, as a prime example. He further emphasized the significance of Egypt's monorail, high-speed electric train, bus rapid transit (BRT) systems, major road projects (such as Al-Awsati, Al-Da'iri, and the Ismailiya Desert Road), the Upper Egypt train station in Beshtil – a monumental facility rivaling international standards – and the seamless integration of various transportation modes at key exchange stations. These achievements, he asserted, underscore the immense value of learning from Egypt's successful experiences.
