Egypt is building its first inland dry port in a bid to improve the operation of its logistics sector and ports.

The dry port – to be located west of Cairo, in the satellite town of 6th of October City – will form an extended gateway to Egypt’s deep-sea ports in the north and east. Once operational, it will be the final destination for cargo, thus easing congestion at the sea ports. In addition, by transferring container traffic from road to rail, the port will help to reduce road congestion, accidents and carbon dioxide emissions, as reported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The development, financed with a US$29.6 million loan from the EBRD, is Egypt’s first public-private partnership in the sector, and the first under the EBRD Green Cities programme. The initiative focuses on addressing cities’ environmental challenges with sustainable infrastructure investments and policies.

The loan forms part of a larger US$60 million investment package from the EBRD, which will finance the design, development, construction, operation and maintenance of the port. It acts as the ‘trigger investment’ under the EBRD Green Cities Framework formalising 6th of October City’s participation in the programme.

21 September 2021
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