Egyptian Transport Minister, Engineer Kamel El-Wazir, and Tanzanian Transport Minister, Professor Makame Mbarawa, along with their accompanying delegation, visited the Port of Alexandria. The visit was in line with directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to enhance cooperation and maximize bilateral trade with African countries, particularly Tanzania. During the visit, El-Wazir expressed Egypt's desire to boost cooperation with Tanzania in various transport sectors.
The two ministers began their visit with an extensive meeting, where El-Wazir emphasized Egypt's eagerness to increase exports and establish logistical zones in African countries, especially Tanzania. He highlighted that the proposed cooperation is based on integration and collaboration. A memorandum of understanding is set to be signed, which includes several key areas: establishing a multi-purpose terminal at the Port of Dar es Salaam and a sea route between Egyptian ports on the Red Sea and the Port of Dar es Salaam.
El-Wazir noted that Egypt has leading companies with extensive experience in infrastructure and is willing to participate in Tanzanian projects with high-quality standards, quick timelines, and reasonable prices. Mbarawa praised Egypt's role in supporting bilateral cooperation and expressed satisfaction with the visit to the Port of Alexandria, one of Africa's largest ports. He emphasized that the talks represent a crucial step towards launching joint projects.
The ministers also discussed cooperation in the field of railway infrastructure. El-Wazir and Mbarawa reviewed several projects at the Port of Alexandria, including the Historical Museum, the Marine Passenger Station, and the multi-purpose terminal, "Tahyat Misr." They also examined the digital operation system and control room. The Port of Alexandria achieved a record 82 million tons of cargo during the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
El-Wazir outlined a comprehensive plan to develop maritime transport, aiming to turn Egypt into a regional hub for transport, logistics, and transit trade. The plan involves establishing five new ports, increasing areas to 100 million square meters, and adding 70 km of berths with depths of 18-25 meters. The goal is to reach 40 Egyptian commercial ships by 2030.
During the meeting, Mbarawa requested scholarships for Tanzanian students to study at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport. El-Wazir agreed to provide these scholarships for the Tanzanian team that will work on the planned terminal at the Port of Dar es Salaam. The two ministers also inspected several facilities at the Port of Alexandria.
The visit concluded with a tour of the port's facilities, including the container loading station for trains heading to the October Dry Port. Key points included: enhancing cooperation between Egypt and Tanzania in transport sectors, establishing a strategic partnership, and increasing trade exchange between the two countries.
Key points
- Egypt and Tanzania are set to sign a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in transport areas.
- The two countries plan to establish a multi-purpose terminal at the Port of Dar es Salaam and a sea route between Egyptian ports and the Port of Dar es Salaam.
- Egypt aims to turn itself into a regional hub for transport, logistics, and transit trade by 2030.
