By: Ahram Online

Egyptian Minister of Transport Kamel Al-Wazir and Chadian Minister of Infrastructure, Disenclavement, and Road Maintenance Amir Idriss discussed the latest developments in the logistics corridor stretching from the Egyptian port of Berenice on the Red Sea to the Cameroonian city of Douala on the Atlantic.

The corridor traverses Aswan, Toshka, and East Oweinat in Egypt, Kufra in Libya, and N'Djamena in Chad.

The project is a massive, multinational logistics and transport initiative designed to interconnect North, Central, and West Africa. By building new highways, modernizing existing roads, and creating border logistics zones, the project aims to link the Red Sea directly to the Atlantic Ocean.

According to a statement by the Egyptian transport ministry on Friday, Al-Wazir met Idriss on the sidelines of the fourth session of the Egypt–Chad Joint Committee in the capital, N'Djamena.

The 4,300 kilometre corridor is expected to become one of Africa's most important logistics links.

During the meeting, Al-Wazir said the corridor represents a strategic transformation in trade across Africa, noting that it will reduce the transportation time for goods between Egypt and Chad from around three months to just one week. 

He added that the corridor is expected to boost trade between Egypt and Chad, lower transport costs, enhance export competitiveness, and support investment and intra-African trade.

Moreover, the transport minister emphasized that Egypt has already begun implementing the project by upgrading and dualizing the Aswan–Berenice Road, improving the Aswan–Toshka Road, and completing the development on the Toshka–East Oweinat Road and the East Oweinat–Kufra Road. 

These projects will complete key segments of the logistics corridor and strengthen overland connectivity between Egypt, Chad, and other African countries, Al-Wazir said.

He also confirmed the depth and strength of the ties between Egypt and Chad, noting that the fourth session of the joint committee marks an important milestone in advancing cooperation across various sectors, particularly transport and infrastructure.

Furthermore, the Minister of  Transport affirmed that President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has directed the government to strengthen cooperation with African countries, especially Chad, thus serving mutual interests and supporting development and regional integration.

For his part, Chadian Minister of Infrastructure, Disenclavement, and Road Maintenance Amir Idriss reaffirmed the strong ties between Egypt and Chad. He also praised Egypt's comprehensive development across various sectors, particularly transport and infrastructure. 

Additionally, Idriss expressed his country's interest in benefiting from Egypt's distinguished expertise and expanding cooperation with Egyptian companies specializing in transport and infrastructure projects.

Chad, Idriss affirmed, was currently completing studies for the section of the logistics corridor within Chadian territory. 

He expected the studies to be finalized by October this year.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the meeting reflects the ministry's commitment to translating the political leadership's directives into practical joint projects with African partners.

It also aligns with the ministry’s efforts to maximize the transport sector's role in promoting trade and investment by connecting markets and production areas to ports and logistics hubs.

Moreover, according to the transport ministry's statement, the meeting also aims to advance economic integration and sustainable development between Egypt, Chad, and other African countries.