SCA head witnesses signing of agreement with Danish Maersk Group

ISMAILIA, Egypt – 9 March 2023: Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Osama Rabie and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Maersk Group Robert Maersk Uggla have witnessed the signing of a new agreement to boost joint cooperation in the fields of training, green transformation, constructing marine tugs and ship recycling.

In a statement released on Thursday, the SCA said the agreement reflects the long-standing strategies ties between the authority and the Maersk Group.

The agreement was inked on the sidelines of Rabie's visit to Denmark, where he met with Egyptian Ambassador in Copenhagen Karim Sherif to discuss how to attract Danish investments, the statement added.

During his meeting with Robert Maersk, the SCA head said the authority is keen on promoting cooperation with the Maersk Group and benefiting from their extended relations to achieve joint interests and serve the international maritime community

Rabie added the two sides will work under the new agreement to exchange expertise in the areas of training and digital transformation, especially as the SCA pays great attention to raising the efficiency of its workers in various sectors, through providing the latest technologies in training.

The SCA head stated the agreement also comes in line with the authority's tendency to develop an eco-friendly work mechanisms, as part of an ambitious business strategy to declare the Suez Canal as "green canal" by 2030.

He noted the two sides will also explore ways of cementing cooperation on constructing maritime tugs between the Port Said Marine Arsenal, one of the authority's arsenals, and Svitzer, one of the Maersk Group's companies.

Rabie explained the SCA and the Maersk Group will explore the possibility of enhancing cooperation in ship recycling.

On his part, Robert Maersk lauded the authority's efforts to advance joint relations with all active parties in the international maritime community, as well as the authority's keenness to support constructive initiatives and adopt future visions that contribute to developing the maritime transport industry and ensuring the sustainability of global trade.

Rabie and Maersk probed plans to develop the Suez Canal Container Terminal in East Port Said Port and transform it into a smart and eco-friendly terminal.

The pair also discussed ways to increase the number of Maersk Line ships crossing the Suez Canal by attracting new ships to enter East Port Said Port.