River, road and rail: Egypt, Sudan move forward with joint projects

Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir said that the railway connecting Egypt and Sudan will extend more than 450 kilometers and cost between 4 to 5 billion Egyptian pounds ($254.6 million-$318.73 million).

Al-Wazir, who is visiting Khartoum as head of an official delegation, said that the main purpose of his trip is to move talks with Sudan forward and begin implementation of the projects. “My visit to Sudan comes within the framework of continuous cooperation and mutual visits between the two countries,” he added.

As part of the cooperation, several major transport projects will be implemented in Sudan, he said. These include river constructions, roads and railways networks. Egypt has increased shipments of ceramics and iron to Sudan as part of the development of the Wadi Halfa port and the construction of a new dock.

The project has “full Egyptian participation and Egyptian financing,” in order to “maximize trade between the two countries,”

Al-Wazir said.

He added that Egypt’s Ministry of Transport has completed preliminary studies regarding rail links between the two countries. Research is also being conducted in partnership with Cairo University to facilitate the movement and transfer of goods between the two countries. The railway line between Egypt and Sudan is expected to be completed over a three-year period beginning next July.

Al-Wazir said there are also plans to link the two countries by land, and that officials are overseeing the completion of a road from Cairo to Aswan.

The road, which will reach the Egyptian border, will contain six lanes, he said, adding that more than 1,155 kilometers of roads are being developed elsewhere. Al-Wazir also revealed plans for a central station in the Wadi Halfa region for the exchange of goods on two rail tracks.

My visit to Sudan comes within the framework of continuous cooperation and mutual visits between the two countries.

Kamel Al-Wazir Transport minister