Industry min. plans to replace old microbuses with advanced ones

CAIRO, March 12 (MENA) - Trade and Industry Minister Neveen Gamea held a meeting on Thursday to review steps to start implementing an urgent plan to replace the old microbuses with more advanced dual fueled others that run on natural gas/gasoline nationwide.

The meeting was attended by the leaderships and representatives of the ministries of local development, petroleum and finance as well as the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE).

The plan also aims to encourage owners of new micorbuses to turn their vehicles to gas-powered ones, the Trade and Industry Ministry said in a statement Thursday.

This step falls within the framework of the auto industry's strategy in Egypt which was launched by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, as part of which is improving means of mass transportation and increasing dependence on new energy sources.

The meeting touched on several key axes, including the roles to be played by all bodies that are engaged in implementing this national project and the criteria of selecting microbuses that will be replaced by the new ones.

Gamea said that this strategy has development, environmental and economic dimensions, including boosting local manufacturing of transportation means.