Development plan of Egyptian ports to turn Egypt to global trade hub - official

CAIRO, Dec 29 (MENA) - Transport Minister Kamel el Wazir stressed on Sunday that the comprehensive plan of developing Egyptian harbors will turn Egypt into a global hub for trade and logistics.

During an expanded meeting with an ad hoc committee tasked with studying the plan, the minister said the plan aims at achieving integration among Egyptian harbors, developing infrastructure of Egyptian ports in accordance with the latest international criteria, linking harbors to investment zones and rehabilitating human cadres.

The plan is conducted by Maritime Research & Consultation Center (MRCC).

He said the plan also seeks to develop the legislative infrastructure of Egyptian ports, securing harbors, raising environmental rating of the harbors and boosting the merchant fleet so that it can transfer 25 percent of Egypt's total foreign seaborne trade.

He underlined the importance of finalizing the plan as soon as possible so that the maritime transport sector can play its role in boosting the national economy.