The event, organized by Egypt’s Ministry of Industry and Transport and the Damietta Port Authority, was held at Damietta Port on the Mediterranean, one of Egypt's vital maritime hubs.

The celebration was attended by Governor of Damietta Ayman El-Shehabi, Italy’s Ambassador to Cairo Michele Quaroni, and leading figures from the maritime transport industry.

In January 2024, Egypt signed an agreement with Italy for cargo transport through the roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) system capacity of 420 trucks every week between the ports of Damietta and Trieste.

Ro-Ro ships allow self-propelled products, such as cars and tractors, to roll on and off the vessel on their wheels rather than being lifted on board using cranes.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Madbouly emphasized that this initiative aligns with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s directives to position Egypt as a regional hub for logistics and transit trade.

He highlighted the project's role in boosting Egypt’s logistical capabilities between Europe and Africa, enhancing trade opportunities, and supporting exports of industrial goods and agricultural produce by facilitating access to European markets.

Minister El-Wazir stated that launching the Egyptian-Italian Ro-Ro shipping line marks a watershed moment for the maritime transport sector, opening new export markets for Egyptian goods in Italy and Europe.

El-Wazir noted that the initiative reflects extensive collaboration between Egypt and Italy to ensure the sustainable operation of this shipping line.

Designed to transport goods using refrigerated and dry trucks, the line establishes a "green corridor" between Egypt and Italy, underscoring the strong ties between the leadership and peoples of the two nations.

The minister further explained that the line will harness European expertise in land transport, reduce shipping costs and delivery times, and enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian products.

The initiative is also expected to create over 2,000 jobs for Egyptian truck drivers and opportunities for administrative staff in transport, shipping companies, and maritime agencies.

For his part, Quaroni praised the months-long cooperation between Egyptian and Italian authorities and private-sector operators.

He emphasized that the new line would facilitate access to Italian and European goods to Egypt and African and Middle Eastern markets via Egypt.

Likewise, it will enable Egyptian exports to Trieste to reach European markets, strengthening collaboration in agriculture and food security — priorities for the Italian government.

The ambassador also commended the operators for their significant initiative and expressed confidence that additional vessels may soon be needed to meet the project's objectives.

He noted that the Ro-Ro line is projected to increase container movement between Mediterranean ports by 3.5 percent annually through 2027.