Cairo: Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir witnessed the signing of two significant agreements between the Egyptian National Railways Authority and the National Egyptian Railway Industries Company (NERIC). The signing event, held on April 27, 2026, was also attended by Minister of Labor Hassan Redad.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the agreements aim to bolster local manufacturing capabilities through the production of 500 air-conditioned passenger railway cars and the creation of a specialized company to operate the Kom Abu Radi workshops. The contracts were signed by Mohamed Amer, Chairman of the Egyptian National Railways Authority, and Ahmed El-Mufti, Managing Director of NERIC.
In his address, El-Wazir outlined that the first agreement aligns with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's vision to localize industry components in Egypt. This initiative seeks to meet domestic transport needs while also positioning locally produced railway cars for potential export. The agreement is designed to harness the momentum of ongoing transport projects to foster local expertise and competitiveness.
The focus of the first agreement is on modernizing Egypt's passenger fleet by supplying 500 air-conditioned railway cars, thereby enhancing services for citizens. This agreement forms part of a broader collaboration between the Ministry of Transport and NERIC to localize railway industries.
Past collaborations have included contracts for manufacturing 40 metro trains and 320 air-conditioned cars with Hyundai Rotem for Cairo Metro Lines 2 and 3, as well as 21 air-conditioned trains for the Alexandria Metro project.
El-Wazir highlighted that the second agreement aims to establish a company dedicated to operating the Kom Abu Radi workshops. This entity will handle maintenance and repair tasks essential to ensuring operational efficiency and fleet readiness, thereby supporting sustainable railway operations.
This initiative is part of a comprehensive strategy by the Ministry of Transport and the Egyptian National Railways Authority to upgrade railway workshops and bolster private sector collaboration. The Minister emphasized that involving the private sector in railway operations would foster competition, enhance service quality, and optimize resource management.
Minister of Labor Hassan Redad emphasized the importance of these agreements in localizing industry and boosting Egypt's manufacturing capacity in the railway sector. He noted that expanding local production supports employment and aligns with national plans to enhance technical skills and workforce efficiency.
Ahmed El-Mufti of NERIC highlighted that the agreements represent critical steps in developing Egypt's rolling stock industry and reflect NERIC's commitment to maintenance and repair efficiency. The establishment of the Kom Abu Radi workshops underscores NERIC's role in supporting comprehensive railway system improvements.