Joint effort in Egypt’s new capital
CBD project will offer jobs and stimulate local economy
CAIRO — About 50 kilometers east of the Egyptian capital, the construction of the Central Business District undertaken by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, or CSCEC, in the country’s new administrative capital is carrying on under the scorching sun.
The new capital is supposed to be one of the solutions to the chronic congestion of the city with a demographic burden of more than 20 million inhabitants.
The project is intended to offer thousands of jobs and stimulate the sluggish econo- my, while Egypt’s government institutions are scheduled to move to the new capital within the second half of 2019.
Dozens of Chinese and Egyptians are surveying the geological conditions of the construction site, preparing statistics for architects to design the 20 residential, administrative, commercial and services towers scattered on the 1.7-million-square-meter area.
Among them, a 385-meter skyscraper attracts the most attention, as Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady recently told a radio station that it will be the tallest building in Africa once completed.
Chang Weicai, chief executive officer of the CSCEC Egypt company, said on-site that the construction is expected to be finished within three and a half years “at maximum”.
He revealed that the construction work will start in several months after a geological survey, adding that over 90 percent of workers will be hired locally as required by local regulations.
CSCEC is China’s largest construction and real estate conglomerate and biggest building contractor. Known worldwide for undertaking super high-rise, grand-scale, cutting-edge and novel projects, the company has built a great number of landmark projects at home and abroad.
“Over 50 percent of high-rises around the globe and over 90 percent of those in China were built by us,” Chang said.
“Egyptian companies like Orascom and Arab Contractors may be more efficient than us in low-rise and midrise, but high-rise is our specialty.”
Ayman Girgis, a 38-yearold field construction engineer, described the site of the CBD as a “beehive” striving to finish the work on time.
“The Chinese workers are working 24 hours (a day) along with their Egyptian colleagues,” he said.
National dream
Still working on the ground tests, Girgis said “the construction of the tallest tower will be carried out” in four to six months and expected it to be completed in no more than two years.
“Their spirit here is more about feeling proud to share with the Egyptian people in accomplishing their national dream,” he said.
The Chinese contribution in a large national project in Egypt has reflected the Asian power’s commitment toward Egypt and signaled the historical ties between the two countries, said Diaa Helmy, secretary-general of the Cairo-based Egyptian-Chinese Commerce Chamber.
“The CBD is one of these projects that China constructs in Egypt not just to gain economic benefits, but to indicate its support for the North African country,” Helmy said.
“China seriously aids Egypt and we also have the same sincere feelings toward our friends, which were manifested in supporting the Belt and Road Initiative that will bring fruits to the entire region,” Helmy said.
The initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.