Egypt’s Minister of Transport Kamel Al-Wazir pose for ani image with Russian Presidential Aide and Chairman of the Russian Maritime Board Nikolai Patrushev after signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU). Photo courtesy of Egyptian cabinet.
The MoU aims to develop a roadmap to localize maritime-related industries in Egypt, link the two countries’ seaports, and strengthen cooperation in transport and infrastructure.
The agreement follows discussions on Egypt’s plan to establish a logistics corridor, including two container terminals at ports on the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, and to increase shipping lines linking Egyptian ports with Russian ports and the Northern Sea Route.
The corridor would pass through industrial zones, dry ports, and logistics areas, supported by industrial and logistics hubs, according to the statement.
These zones are expected to handle Russian industrial, petroleum, and grain products, while expanded shipping lines would facilitate the transport of Russian goods to Egyptian ports.
The plans were discussed at a meeting attended by Al-Wazir and Patrushev, as well as Igor Levitin and representatives of Russian maritime and transport companies.
Egypt is also seeking to expand partnerships in port development, railways, and logistics to improve supply chain efficiency and reinforce its role as a transit hub linking Africa, the Middle East, and Europe via the Suez Canal, amid regional conflicts affecting shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.
Russia is considering establishing a shipyard in Egypt to support shipbuilding and maintenance of its merchant fleet, alongside plans to localize shipyard construction, design, and marine equipment manufacturing.
Further plans include developing a roadmap for joint projects in maritime transport and shipbuilding, establishing a research centre focused on oil, grain, and natural gas, expanding cooperation in transport and logistics, and increasing the number of Egyptian-flagged vessels.
Egypt and Russia have expanded cooperation over the past decade in the energy, industrial, and infrastructure sectors, including the Dabaa nuclear power plant being built by Rosatom and the planned Russian Industrial Zone (RIZ) in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) to support manufacturing and exports.
Short link: