EAST PORT SAID, Egypt, Nov 16 (MENA) President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Sunday that the development achieved in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) is the result of joint efforts, highlighting Egypt’s promising opportunities stemming from its strategic geographic location and the global role of the Suez Canal.
The President made his remarks during a ceremony marking the inauguration of several marine facilities in the SCZONE at East Port Said.
Many challenges appeared during the initiation of the SCZONE project in 2015. However, determination and coordinated hard work enabled the state to achieve its targeted goals, Sisi said.
He underscored the need for continued efforts to ensure Egypt assumes its natural place among nations, particularly in the transport and logistics sectors.
The President expressed appreciation to Maersk for honoring its commitments, noting Egypt’s aspiration for the firm and other investors operating in the country to expand their investments.
He emphasized that the state will provide all necessary facilitation, calling for faster implementation rates and accelerated project completion.
Sisi said that Egypt is now witnessing the tangible results of development across ports, railways, roads, corridors, and the energy sector. He also commended the resilience of the Egyptian people and urged continued dedication to secure further achievements for current and future generations.
For his part, Deputy CEO of A.P. Moller-Maersk and CEO of APM Terminals Keith Svendsen praised Sisi’s role and Egypt’s hosting of the Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit as a reflection of Cairo’s active regional leadership in supporting Middle East stability.
Svendsen also highlighted the long-standing cooperation between Maersk and the Suez Canal Authority, which has yielded positive results over the years, announcing the company’s intention to increase its investments in Egypt and thanking the government for its facilitation efforts.
Chairman of Suez Canal Automotive Terminal (SCAT) and CEO of AGL Ports Olivier de Noray expressed appreciation for the President’s vision and determination in establishing the SCZONE, which he described as a strategic gateway to Africa and surrounding regions.
He said SCAT’s projects in Egypt will serve as a platform for automobile production and global export.
The new car terminal was inaugurated via video conference.
Chairman of Sky Ports Group Egypt Tarek Fathy said the group’s projects in Egypt will contribute to transforming the country into a global logistics hub.
The multi-purpose terminal was also inaugurated via video conference following his remarks.
The ceremony featured a presentation from Chairman of the SCZONE Walid Gamal El-Din, who said that 2025 marks an exceptional milestone in the authority’s trajectory.
He noted that East Port Said ranks as Africa’s top container port and the third globally.
Gamal El-Din highlighted Sisi’s vision in supporting the SCZONE despite challenges and thanked state agencies for their efforts in developing and securing infrastructure that links the east and west banks of the canal, enabling greater investment attraction.
He outlined the authority’s investment strategy, noting that from 2016 to 2025 more than 136,000 direct jobs were created and investments totaling $11.6 billion were attracted, with a focus on industrial localization, including green hydrogen production under Egypt’s national low-carbon hydrogen strategy.
Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, delivered an address outlining the state’s port development Kamel el Wazir said Egypt has become a regional hub for transport, logistics, and transit trade, noting that 14 ports have been developed and five new ports established under a comprehensive plan to position Egypt among the world’s key logistics centers. (MENA)
