The Second Follow-Up Report of the "NWFE" Program Highlights Developments in the Implementation of Sustainable Transport Projects

⁠Signing of a financing agreement for the "Al-Rubiki, 10th of Ramadan and Belbeis" railway project with the French Development Agency and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

 

⁠Providing technical support grants to prepare implementation studies for the Abu Qir metro projects, the extension of the first line of the Cairo metro and the development of the Sherbin-Damanhour railway line.

 

The second follow-up report of the " NWFE" program, launched by the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, reviewed developments in the sustainable transport pillar "NWFE+", which includes a number of projects that come within the framework of the country’s commitment towards expanding green and environmentally friendly transport.

 

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, explained that the "NWFE+" program comes within the framework of the state's vision and strategy to create an integrated network of sustainable green transport means to integrate with national efforts to support climate action and implement green projects in the fields of food security, support agricultural productivity, resilience to climate change, and expansion of renewable energy projects. Al-Mashat emphasized that the transport sector is one of the priorities in the state’s plan to achieve economic development, and that the development of the transport sector undoubtedly reflects efforts to attract foreign direct investments and supports the state’s vision of becoming a logistics hub in the field of trade and transit.

 

The report stated that the "NWFE+" program was launched to include the sustainable transport pillar in November 2022, in agreement between the Ministry of Transport, the European Investment Bank, and the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, by starting preparations for a number of projects under the sustainable transport pillar, including the extension of the first line of the metro to Shebin El Qanater, the extension of the Abu Qir railway line in Alexandria and its transformation into an electric metro (Alexandria Metro), the construction of the railway line (Rubiki-10th of Ramadan-Belbis), and the Tanta-Mansoura-Damietta railway line, with the addition of the "development of the Sherbin-Qalin-Damanhour railway line in 2024" project to the list of projects to be implemented under the axis, in addition to splitting the "extension of the Abu Qir railway line in Alexandria and converting it into an electric metro (Alexandria Metro)" project into two phases due to the size of the project.

 

The report also highlighted the  achievement of a number of steps, the most significant of which the signing of a partnership agreement for the sustainable transport pillar within the framework of the country platform projects - NWFE+ in November 2022, between the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Transport, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the French Development Agency. The three funding entities pledged financial contributions, with the European Investment Bank coordinating with various development partners to provide technical support grants for preparing the necessary studies for the projects,  and the possibility of providing technical and investment grants from the European Union (EU).

 

Updates on the Implementation of Sustainable Transport Projects

 

The report pointed to what was achieved in 2024 including the signing of agreements for the Rubiki-Tenth of Ramadan-Balbis railway line co-financed by the French Development Agency and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as the European Investment Bank (EIB) sending a technical mission to Cairo, during which a series of meetings were held with the Ministry of Transport, affiliated entities, European development partners and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to discuss future plans for the projects agreed within the framework of the sustainable transport pillar.

 

Achievements in 2024 also included an agreement between European development partners, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation to provide €3 million in technical support from the European Investment Bank and other amounts in coordination with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to prepare preliminary studies and feasibility studies for three projects (the extension of the Cairo Metro Line 1 from New Marj to Shebin El Qanater - the extension of the Abu Qir railway line in Alexandria into an electric metro (Alexandria Metro) - the development of the Sherbin-Qalin-Damanhour railway line), in addition to the ongoing implementation of Tanta-Mansoura-Damietta railway project.

 

Regarding the future plan for the sustainable transport pillar within the framework of the "NWFE+" program, the report confirmed that the focus in 2025 will be on completing the necessary studies for all future projects within the transport pillar, as well as exploring other sources to provide more grants to prepare technical and environmental feasibility studies that precede the start of implementation of these projects. Furthermore, providing investment grants during the implementation period, working to encourage private sector participation given the vital role it plays, and continuing the coordination and consultation that began in 2024 with development partners in the new general approach that the Ministry of Industry and Transport proposes to take.