CAIRO – 23 August 2026: Egypt is seeking to expand cooperation with US companies in maritime transport and port operations as the country works to attract more transit trade and strengthen the global competitiveness of its ports, Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir said Sunday.
Speaking at the U.S.–Egypt Ports Infrastructure and Maritime Innovation Forum in New Cairo, El-Wazir said Egypt has successfully established strategic partnerships with major global port operators and shipping lines, helping enhance the capacity of Egyptian ports to attract transit trade.
He expressed the government’s interest in expanding such partnerships with U.S. companies, particularly in maritime transport, logistics and port infrastructure.
El-Wazir said the forum reflects the depth of Egyptian-U.S. relations, describing the bilateral partnership as extending beyond trade and investment to cooperation that supports economic growth, stability and development.
He highlighted Egypt’s strategic geographic location, the Suez Canal, its developing port network and logistics zones, alongside US expertise in transportation, logistics and global supply chains.
The minister said Egypt and the US share a vision of enhancing the efficiency, sustainability and security of global supply chains, while increasing private-sector participation in technology localization and the development of maritime and logistics services.
Egypt develops 8 logistics corridors
El-Wazir said Egypt is currently implementing eight integrated international logistics corridors linking Mediterranean and Red Sea ports, as well as the Suez Canal, with dry ports and industrial, agricultural and mining zones through railway networks, electric high-speed rail and highways.
The corridors are designed to reduce the time and cost of transporting goods and strengthen Egypt’s position as a regional hub for transportation, logistics and transit trade.
The eight corridors are the Arish-Taba, Sokhna-Alexandria, Safaga-Qena-Abu Tartour, Cairo-Alexandria, Tanta-Mansoura-Damietta, Gargoub-Salloum, Cairo-Aswan-Abu Simbel, and Bernice-Aswan-East Oweinat-Al Kufra-N'Djamena corridors.
El-Wazir said the projects offer opportunities for US investment and partnerships in transportation, logistics, mining, industry and infrastructure.
He particularly highlighted the Arish-Taba and Sokhna-Alexandria corridors for their potential role in supporting Egypt’s integration into the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
Egypt targets 19 commercial ports by 2030
Egypt’s maritime transport development strategy aims to transform its ports into integrated logistics hubs connected to different transportation networks, reducing cargo clearance and handling times, lowering costs and improving the efficiency of imports and exports, El-Wazir said.
The plan includes developing ports on the Mediterranean and Red seas and establishing five new ports, bringing the total number of commercial ports to 19.
Port areas are also expected to expand to around 100 million square meters, while approximately 70 kilometers of new berths will be added. The plan also includes developing navigation barriers and Egypt’s marine tugboat fleet.
El-Wazir said Egypt is working to expand its national maritime fleet to 40 vessels by 2030, with an annual transportation capacity of 30 million tons.
The government is simultaneously implementing green maritime transport projects, expanding the use of clean energy and reducing carbon emissions while applying international environmental standards across Egyptian ports.
The minister affirmed the government’s readiness to support serious investments, particularly U.S. investments, across the transportation sector, with maritime transport representing a key area for cooperation.
“The future of this sector is based on partnership, integration and the exchange of expertise,” El-Wazir said, stressing the importance of expanding Egyptian-US cooperation to support shared prosperity and the sustainability of global trade.
The forum, organized by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, brought together senior Egyptian and U.S. officials and representatives of leading American companies to explore opportunities in maritime infrastructure, logistics, technology and investment.
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