A consortium of three companies has been given a contract for a $176 million project to construct Egypt’s first dry port on 100 feddans (approx. 420,000 square meters) in 6 October City, Minister of Transportation Kamel El-Wazir announced on Wednesday in a press conference.



The three companies are Egypt’s El-Sewedy Electric and 3A International, and Germany’s DB Schenker Egypt.



Based upon the public-private partnership system between Egypt's General Authority for Ports and Dry Land and the winning consortium, the port project will be carried out with an investment cost estimated at $100 million.



The port's annual absorption capacity is planned to be 720,000 containers with an estimated construction cost of $176 million, to be paid by the three awarded companies, Al-Wazir added.



The October port is expected to put a limit on the accumulation of goods and containers in the Alexandria and Dekheila ports with the aim of improving the services provided by both ports through increasing its absorptive capacity and diminishing the waiting times for ships outside those ports, which will contribute to reducing the cost of goods.



The port, which is the first of eight dry ports the government plans to set up, will provide nearly 3,500 direct and indirect vacancies, the minister added, noting that it will contribute to developing the industrial district in 6 October City and the adjacent areas.



Work for the newly-signed project starts on 1 February, and will last about two years, the minister added. He also highlighted the necessity of establishing the Manashe/6 October railway line with three 60-container-capacity trains to be operated daily in both directions.



Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the project should contribute to improving Egypt’s ranking on practicing businesses, praising the participation of the private sector in implementing the project.

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