British companies and UK Export Finance (UKEF) are committed to contribute to the development of the Egyptian railway system so that it becomes more sustainable and efficient, British Ambassador to Egypt Geoffrey Adams said on Tuesday.

Adams met with Egypt’s Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir during which they discussed current and future cooperation, including railway, electric traction and subway system projects.

Adams said the UK is also developing the new monorail system in Cairo, noting that such projects create job opportunities for Egyptian and British people.

These projects also offer clean and more environmentally-friendly transportation, which are essential to achieve climate-related goals.

A consortium led by Bombardier Transportation, which is now part of Alstom, confirmed a deal with the Egyptian government in January to build two new monorails in Cairo.

The agreement is the result of government financing from UKEF worth £1.7 billion ($2.4 billion). The UK says such financing is its largest ever provided for an overseas infrastructure project.

During the meeting, El-Wazir and Adams affirmed that the two trains will be delivered to Egypt in September.

They also discussed a UKEF-funded agreement to export 50 new locomotives to Egypt and develop 50 others. The agreement was concluded between the Egyptian National Railways and the US-based Progress Rail Locomotives in 2018.

El-Wazir and Adams discussed the willingness of Hitachi Rail STS, through its branch in the UK, to manufacture and export 200 sleeper railcars to Egypt.

Adams also affirmed that the US Bechtel Corporation, through its UK branch, will provide the Egyptian transport ministry with technical and financial support during the first week of July to support Cairo metro’s sixth line.

El-Wazir said last month as many as 153 projects are currently being implemented to modernise the country's railway system, 27 of which are included in the ministry's budget for the coming fiscal year.

This comes at a total cost of EGP 132 billion (nearly $8.2 billion), according to El-Wazir.