Egyptian Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait and Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir voiced Egypt’s keenness to help Sudan achieve its developmental requirements, as they made an official visit to Khartoum on Sunday.

After a meeting with Sudan’s economic ministerial group, Maait affirmed Egypt’s willingness to meet Sudanese requirements to achieve their comprehensive developmental goals, given Egyptian capabilities and experience in various fields, a statement by the ministry read.

He also voiced his eagerness to share expertise with Sudan in the field of economic reform to meet the aspiration of both countries and create a model of developmental partnership and economic integrity.

Maait said the meeting with the Sudanese economic ministerial group witnessed fruitful discussions on the stages of implementing the Egyptian economic reform program. This included the required financial policies and social protection programs, the statement noted.

The finance minister said cooperation between Egypt and Sudan will witness a boost through meetings between representatives of the two countries’ ministries in the coming period to exchange expertise.

##

El-Wazir said Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has issued directives to meet Sudan’s requirements, especially in the field of transportation.

In a meeting between the Egyptian and Sudanese delegations, headed by the two countries’ transport ministers, El-Wazir said the rail project linking Egypt and Sudan will soon come to light.

The rail project between Egypt and Sudan will reportedly extend to 900 km long and will link the two countries through the northern Sudanese city of Wadi Halfa.

“I have personally obtained an approval from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi that any project that has a positive impact on the relations between the two peoples and serve their interest shall be immediately implemented,” El-Wazir said.

A 12-lane road, 6 in both directions, linking Cairo in northern Egypt with Aswan in the south will be extended to the international border with Sudan, El-Wazir noted.

El-Wazir also highlighted cooperation between Egypt and Sudan in land, river, and sea transportation.

The two ministers’ visit to Khartoum comes a month after President Sisi met with Sudanese leaders in an official visit to the Sudanese capital.

The president in March heldmeetingswith Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, the head of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council.

They discussed developmental issues and regional and international issues of mutual concern.

They also affirmed their rejection of Ethiopian plans to continue the filling of its massive Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in July before a binding agreement among the three countries is reached.

El-Sisi was keen during the meetings to confirm Egypt’s support to a Sudanese proposal of forming a quartet composed of the United Nations, African Union, European Union, and the United States to mediate the GERD talks.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/408964.aspx