Egypt's Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir inspected on Monday the upgrade of the Suez Canal Economic Zone's (SCZone) Ain Sokhna port, a plan that aims to transform it into a leading port hub on the Red Sea and the Middle East.

The SCZone and the General Authority for Roads and Bridges, which is part of the transport ministry, signed in April an EGP 20 billion ($1.27 billion) agreement to develop the port and transform it into a leading port hub in the region in two years to facilitate the trade flow between the east and west.

The development works include the construction of four new basins, with 12 km long and 18 metres deep berths, according to a statement by the transport ministry released following the tour.

The plan also includes the establishment of terminals estimated at 5.6 million square meters and logistics areas of 5.3 square km linked with an internal network of railways at a length of 10 km connected to the under-establishment high-speed electric train, the country's first-ever train of its kind.

The electric train, which will connect Sokhna to New Alamein on the Mediterranean Sea in the far northwest of the country, will serve in transporting cargo, especially containers, to various parts of the country including the Alexandria Port.

A road network of 14 km will be established as well inside the port to connect the berths and the rest of the port to reduce congestion in the port.

During the tour, El-Wazir inspected an 842-metre-long wave barrier and a 1,000-metre-long ecological barrier meant to protect nearby facilities.

The minister ordered implementing the upgrade as per the highest quality standards, taking into account the determined timetable, the statement added.

El-Wazir was accompanied by Yehia Zaki, the chairman of the SCZone; and Hossam El-Din Mostafa, chairman of the General Authority for Roads and Bridges; among others.