Cairo: The Minister of Transport, Kamel El-Wazir, witnessed the signing of a licensing agreement for the operation of Quay No. 22 between the Egypt Maritime Ports Company (EMP) and the General Authority for Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE). The agreement allows for the handling, loading, unloading, and storage of general cargo and clean dry bulk goods for a period of 18 months, enabling immediate operations and maximizing the existing infrastructure at the Port of Sokhna.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the signing aligns with directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to develop all Egyptian ports, positioning Egypt as a regional hub for transport, logistics, and transit trade. This initiative is intended to increase the capacity of these ports to attract investment and accommodate growing trade volumes. It also aligns with the comprehensive plan implemented by EMP, the commercial arm of the Ministry of Transport, for the establishment, management, and operation of cargo handling terminals in Egyptian ports.
The Minister of Transport also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two parties to carry out the necessary studies, including feasibility and market studies, and to complete all required approvals within 18 months. This is in preparation for signing a commitment agreement to construct, operate, maintain, develop, and hand over a terminal for clean dry bulk and general cargo at the Port of Sokhna.
The agreement and memorandum of understanding were signed by Major General Abdelkader Darwish, Chairman and Managing Director of EMP, and Ahmed Gamal, Deputy Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Authority for the Southern Zone, in the presence of Walid Gamal Eldin, Chairman of the Authority, and Major General Nihad Shahin, Deputy Minister of Transport for Maritime Transport.
During the signing ceremony, the minister emphasized that the agreement represents a significant step in EMP's efforts to manage and operate several Egyptian port terminals. He highlighted the Ministry's strong support for EMP to become a leading global operator of commercial maritime terminals, alongside other affiliated companies such as the Suez Canal Company for Port Development and the container handling companies at Port Said, Alexandria, and Damietta, reflecting the substantial development underway in Egypt's maritime transport sector under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The minister also noted the government's goal to increase the number of companies operating across all maritime transport sectors in Egyptian ports, including the Port of Sokhna, which the state aims to transform into a major hub comparable to the most advanced global ports, supporting regional and international trade and increasing Egypt's share in the global transit market.
For his part, Walid Gamal Eldin, Chairman of SCZONE, described the project as a key step toward maximizing the Port of Sokhna's capabilities and operational efficiency, making it one of the region's leading ports for general cargo and clean dry bulk. He added that the Authority continues to attract high-quality investments that diversify port activities and meet growing trade demands.
He also noted that the project reflects the Authority's approach to developing terminals capable of handling different types of cargo, ensuring operational flexibility and enhancing the port's competitiveness regionally and internationally. Additionally, it supports supply chains by integrating logistics services within the port and connecting them with industrial zones under the Suez Canal Economic Authority.