CAIRO – 26 June 2019: Egypt and Germany reached an agreement to start drafting a framework of a cooperation deal between the Egyptian Railways and the German Railways.
This framework will define the proposed areas of cooperation, the Egyptian needs in the various technical support sectors, and means of financing in preparation for launching the proposed cooperation agreement as soon as possible.
This came during Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli's visit to Germany where he met Wednesday with President of the German Railways Company Richard Lotus.
During the meeting, the prime minister mentioned to the challenges facing the railway system in Egypt, which is one of the oldest railway systems in the world.
Madbouli added that President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi is paying great attention to this issue and following it around the clock to make a qualitative leap in this vital facility, which requires comprehensive development and upgrading.
He stressed that the majority of railway accidents came as a result of human error, and that the Ministry of Transport is currently paying great attention to the training of railway workers, in parallel with efforts and projects to develop the crossings and electrify traffic lights.
The meeting also reviewed the plans of the Ministry of Transport for the development of railways in cooperation with international companies such as Siemens.
Madbouli noted that the Ministry of Transport needs new diesel tractors to be compatible with the existing lines, and that the state will study the use of electric tractors in the new lines under construction.
The meeting also dealt with the efforts of developing the Training Institute for Railway Workers in the framework of the ministry's interest in raising the efficiency of the human element. He expressed the ministry's aspiration to cooperate with the German side in this regard.
on other hand, the head of the German Railways Company expressed his agreement with the prime minister and the minister of transport on the importance of developing and upgrading the human resources.
Lotus revealed readiness to train Egyptian cadres by sending German trainers to Egyptian training institutes and centers to transfer the German expertise and by receiving some Egyptian cadres in Germany to learn about the nature of the German experience, in addition to studying the establishment of a center of excellence in cooperation with the German side.
Wed, Jun. 26, 2019
