Cairo: Egypt's Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transportation, Kamel Wazir, engaged in discussions with Sudanese Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Saif al-Nasr al-Tijani, to explore avenues for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the transportation sector. The talks, which took place in the presence of key officials from both nations, underscored the enduring and historical ties between Egypt and Sudan.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting highlighted the ongoing development in Egyptian-Sudanese transport relations. Minister Wazir reiterated Egypt's commitment to supporting Sudan's infrastructure and development initiatives, involving Egyptian companies in significant projects. Sudanese Minister Saif al-Nasr al-Tijani extended his congratulations to Wazir for the successful hosting of the 6th Smart Transport, Infrastructure, Logistics, and Traffic for the Middle East and Africa TransMEA, which drew considerable international, Arab, and local participation.
The discussions covered various aspects of collaboration, including roads and bridges, where the parties followed up on the progress made by a technical committee initiated by Wazir at Sudan's request. The committee is tasked with conducting essential maintenance work on several Sudanese bridges, such as Shabmat and Al-Halfaya. The Sudanese delegation expressed their appreciation for Egypt's swift response and cooperation.
The meeting also addressed river transport cooperation, a crucial element of the strategic partnership between the two nations. A joint cooperation protocol was formalized between the Egyptian General Authority for River Transport, the Nile Valley River Navigation Authority, and the Sudanese River Navigation Authority. This agreement aims to enhance the river dock at Wadi Halfa port, facilitating smoother passenger and goods movement between the countries.
Additionally, Sudan sought to leverage the training institutes and centers under the Egyptian Ministry of Transport to train Sudanese personnel in various transportation fields. In response, Wazir directed the formation of a committee comprising river transport experts from the Egyptian Regional Institute for River Transport to train Sudanese cadres in Wadi Halfa. Furthermore, a comprehensive training plan will be developed to extend training across different transport fields, utilizing Egyptian Ministry of Transport's facilities.