Egypt makes strides in port + logistics infrastructure expansion projects with new contracts: Egypt has taken several measures this week to advance plans to expand logistics and port infrastructure, with two contracts awarded for two terminals at East Port Said Port, and a third logistics zone contract reportedly set to be awarded today.

Two companies were awarded terminals at East Port Said Port: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi ratified a decision to award Sky Logistics a 30-year build-operate-transfer contract for a multipurpose terminal at East Port Said Port, Al Mal reports. The multi-purpose station is set to be built over three phases, with the first set to begin operations by October, and the second and third phases set to be complete by the end of 2024.

State-owned Suez Canal Container Terminal Company (SCCT) was also awarded a contract to develop a second container terminal at the port, according to a ministry statement, which did not provide details on the second terminal.

Background: The port’s main operator, the Suez Canal Container Terminal Company (SCCT), plans to invest USD 500 mn to expand the capacity of the East Port Said Port by 40%.

There has also been renewed impetus to develop logistics infrastructure at the country’s border with Libya: Egypt’s General Authority for Land and Dry Ports (GALD) is looking to ink a 15-year agreement with Egypt-Europe for Industrial Development (EEID) for the management and operation of a 28-acre logistics zone at Al Salloum Land Port on the country’s border with Libya today, sources reportedly told Al Borsa.

The details: EEID is set to be awarded a 15-year concession and is expected to begin operations at the site by September at the latest, sources in the know told Al Borsa. The land and ports authority has reportedly prepared the site and equipped it with cold storage facilities and warehouses. The logistics zone aims to boost Egypt’s exports to Libya while adding value through packaging, storage, distribution, and export of Egyptian light and medium industrial products, the sources said.

A bridge to Europe? Development plans laid out for the project see local production of food and engineering products for export to markets in North and Central Africa, in addition to Europe, via the adjacent seaport of Gargoub.

The ball first got rolling earlier this year: Egypt’s transport minister Kamel El Wazir inked an MoU with the land and port authority to set up a consortium of companies comprising EEID, Mirad Developments, and Lenza Egypt for Projects and Engineering Equipment to build, manage, and operate the integrated logistical zone at Al Salloum.

The consortium arranged financing for the zone’s investments via the European Investment Bank (EIB) , the sources added, without disclosing the exact amount.

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