Day: December 22, 2022

Head of the Egyptian Journalists’ Syndicate and General Coordinator of the National Political Dialogue (NPD) Diaa Rashwan said the State will not give up its sovereignty over the Suez Canal or any of its assets.

Rashwan’s comments came in a press conference held by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) on Thursday to clarify the truth about a draft law passed in principle by the parliament, which allows the establishment of an investment fund, with a licensed capital of EGP 100 billion and a paid-up capital of EGP 10 billion.

The proposed fund aims to help the SCA deal with emergencies, absorb external shocks, and enhance its contribution to the national economy.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Power Project (JNHPP) in Tanzania reflects Egypt’s commitment to supporting development in the Nile Basin countries.

He added this huge project shows the importance of strengthening constructive regional cooperation to achieve development for African countries.

Shoukry made the remarks during his participation Thursday along with Housing Minister Assem el Gazzar in a ceremony held on the occasion of filling the dam’s lake, said Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid.

JNHPP was constructed through a joint venture of two Egyptian companies – the Arab Contractors Company and El Sewedy Electric – to double Tanzania’s current energy production capacity, control floods and improve agriculture.

The Egyptian foreign minister conveyed the greetings of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to his Tanzanian counterpart, hailing the profound relations between Egypt and Tanzania.

Shoukry explained that cooperation among Nile Basin countries could become effective when the political will exists.

The spokesman added the project will greatly contribute to attaining development for Tanzania and elevating bilateral relations to the strategic level.

The ceremony was attended by Tanzanian President Samia Hassan and the Tanzanian energy minister, as well as representatives of the two Egyptian companies.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

The Transport Ministry announced on Thursday 22/12/2022 the start of the operation of Spanish air-conditioned trains with passengers as of Saturday from Ramsis station in Cairo to Sidi Gaber and Misr railway stations in Alexandria.

The experimental operation of the train without passengers ended on Thursday, a statement of the Transport Ministry said.

The train will set off daily from Misr station in Alexandria at 5:55 am and from Sidi Gaber station 6:05 am en route to Cairo, the statement said.

The operation of new trains move comes as part of the political leadership’s directives to upgrade railway mechanism, including carriages and human cadres, to ensure better services to citizens.

The new train consists of five air-conditioned first-class railcars, eight air-conditioned second-class railcars, caboose, engine, and power car.

It is the first to be received by Egypt as part of a contract with the Spanish Talgo company to supply Egypt with seven trains.

The new trains – part of a €125.6 million deal, will be made of aluminum, which reduces their weight and helps to save the train’s consumption of fuel in the journey.

It is also resistant to rust and therefore does not corrode from the water used in the cleanliness and maintenance of trains, which extends the life span of such trains.

For people with special needs, each seat of the first air-conditioned carriages is equipped with a display screen to display film materials, in addition to the presence of central screens in the second-class air-conditioned carriages, and there will be surveillance cameras in those trains to secure the passengers.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

The Supreme Committee for Beach Licensing works on taking required decisions to simplify procedures for investors and license applicants, Irrigation Minister Hany Sowailam said.

The minister made his remarks on Thursday 22/12/2022 at a meeting of the committee in the presence of Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad, South Sinai governor Khaled Foda and a host of respective officials.

The committee works on finalizing licensing measures for the investors and license applicants as soon as possible to propel development, support national economy, create job opportunities and achieve sustainable development, the minister reiterated.

A total of 28 license applications of the governorates of Alexandria, Red Sea, Suez, South Sinai, Matrouh, Behaira and Port Said were reviewed during the meeting.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli witnessed Thursday the signing of a cooperation protocol between Telecom Egypt and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC).

The protocol primarily aims to finding a formula for joint technical cooperation between Telecom Egypt and the EETC according to a number of axes, including cooperation to reinforce the grids in certain areas.

Following the signing ceremony, Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister Mohamed Shaker said that the EETC, which is affiliated with the ministry, is the strategic partner for Egypt’s sustainable development in the various logistic services.

Telecom Egypt is keen on benefiting from the EETC’s distinguished network in order to additionally secure the international communications traffic between Egypt and neighboring countries, added the minister.

For his part, Communications and IT Minister Amr Talat said that cooperation with Electricity Ministry, represented by the ETTC, comes as part of the strategic and constructive cooperation between the various sectors in the state.

The cooperation also affirms Egypt’s crucial role in the communications and IT sector, he added.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

Supply Minister Ali Moslehi said on Wednesday 21/12/2022 the ministry will raise the price of sugarcane purchased from local farmers to EGP 1,100 per ton after an agreement was reached with the parliamentary majority at the House of Representatives.

Also, the ministry will pay local farmers 1,000 pounds for sugar beet ton.

The new prices were agreed upon following the global price raise of production inputs over the past three months in a bid to strike a balance between production cost and import price to help farmers achieve some profits.

Head of parliamentary majority Ashraf Rashad lauded the ministry’s efforts to upgrade sugar industry in Egypt to lower wastage by 20 percent.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

International Cooperation Minister Rania el Mashat discussed with UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt Elena Panova final preparations for launching the 2023-2027 United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for Egypt.

The two sides also discussed the activities associated with the joint steering committee and technical groups.

Mashat, meanwhile, hailed the close relations binding Egypt and the UN, terming their partnership as “long-established”.

The launch of the new strategic partnership framework for Egypt constitutes a new chapter of joint cooperation and represents a perfect opportunity to review the cooperation between the agencies and the programs of the UN and the national bodies, added the minister.

In a related context, Mashat discussed with Panova bilateral cooperation in the various development spheres, including the National Green Projects Platform “NWFE”, to drive Egypt’s green transition and switch toward using renewable energy sources.

Panova, meanwhile, said that the UN is keen on holding cooperation with the government, especially at the level of technical support, to contribute to efforts aiming to attain fair transition to sustainable economy and advancing climate action through “NWFE” platform.

Source: State Information Service Egypt