Egypt’s Minister of Transport Kamel el Wazir has underlined the longstanding historical ties and strong fraternal relations linking Egypt and Eritrea, while highlighting a mutual commitment to advancing transport sector cooperation alongside broader economic and developmental collaboration. His remarks came during a meeting held on 16th April 2026 with Hagos Gebrehiwet, economic advisor to the Eritrean president, and Eritrean Minister of Trade and Industry Nasr El-Din Saleh. The discussions focused on reinforcing partnerships across multiple transport-related areas, with particular emphasis on expanding transport sector cooperation between the two nations as part of a wider strategic agenda.
During the meeting, Wazir noted that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has issued directives to deepen engagement with African countries, including sharing Egypt’s urban development experience with partners across the continent. He pointed out that a dedicated department has been created within the Ministry of Transport specifically to support Egyptian-African transport sector cooperation, reflecting an institutional commitment to strengthening ties with African counterparts. This initiative signals a structured approach to collaboration, aimed at fostering long-term partnerships across infrastructure and mobility sectors.
Hagos Gebrehiwet, for his part, commended the progress Egypt has achieved across a range of sectors and expressed Eritrea’s interest in enhancing cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, industry, aviation, agriculture, mineral extraction, and workforce training. He emphasized Egypt’s capacity to support these efforts, describing the country as a key partner in advancing development initiatives. According to a statement by the Ministry of Transport, the talks also covered specific opportunities in infrastructure development, railway projects, and seaports, in addition to facilitating the movement of Eritrean goods to Egypt and international markets via Egyptian commercial shipping, as well as using Egypt as a transit hub for goods destined for Eritrea. These measures form part of broader plans to expand transport sector cooperation and trade connectivity.
Wazir further highlighted the readiness of Egyptian national companies to undertake infrastructure projects in Eritrea, including roads, bridges, railways, seaports, dry ports, logistics zones, and airports, offering competitive pricing, high-quality standards, and rapid execution timelines. He also expressed his intention to visit Eritrea soon, leading a delegation of specialized companies and investors to explore opportunities aligned with Eritrea’s development strategy. The minister additionally noted Egypt’s capabilities in manufacturing railway and metro rolling stock and components. Both sides concluded by stressing the importance of continued engagement and regular meetings to advance transport sector cooperation in a way that reflects the depth of their bilateral relationship.
