$1.24 billion line will reduce journey times between cities by 30%

Aunit of China Railway Group Ltd said it will began preliminary work on a $1.24 billion light rail project in Egypt within two to three months, marking China's debut rail project in the country.

China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co, the prime contractor, said on Aug 16 that upon completion, the system will be able to accommodate 340,000 passengers daily, and will reduce travel time between Cairo and the under-construction new administrative capital, as well as the city of 10th of Ramadan, by about 30 percent.

The light rail system is expected to cover a distance of 66 km with 11 stops, connecting Cairo, the capital, with the under-construction new administrative capital and distant districts of greater Cairo including Al-Salam, 10th of Ramadan, Obour, Badr and Shorouk. It has a designed maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

That's according to an agreement recently signed between a consortium of Chinese companies and the Egyptian Ministry of Transportation.

Han Bing, minister counselor for economic affairs with the Chinese embassy in Egypt, says, "The planned rail project shows that Egypt acknowledges China's advanced technology in rail construction."

Apart from easing the regional traffic situation, the light rail project will also create jobs for Egypt and promote the local construction industry, Han was quoted by China Radio International as saying.

"Chinese companies will offer technology and equipment, while local companies will be responsible for the construction."

Egypt attaches great importance to the project's construction, and officials met with the Chinese consortium earlier to negotiate key issues in the contract, he adds.

The Egyptian government put forward a plan in 2015 to build a new administrative capital, east of Cairo, covering an area of 700 square kilometers to relieve the great housing and transportation pressure.

Last year, bilateral trade in goods reached $11.3 billion, down by 12 percent year-on-year, making Egypt the third-biggest African trading partner with China, according to the General Administration of Customs.

In the same period, China's exports to Egypt dropped by 9.92 percent year-on-year, and imports decreased by 39.8 percent.

China mainly exports mechanical and electrical products, vehicles and accessories, as well as steel and steel products, to Egypt, and it imports crude oil, stone, lubricants, citrus and ore from the country.

Contact the writers at [email protected]

(China Daily Africa Weekly 08/18/2017 page29)