The Egyptian government has approved the construction of the first dry port on October 6 through the Council of Ministers. The city is a satellite town and part of the Cairo city in Giza province.

The facility will also be the largest of its kind in the entire African region. The construction contract for the facility will be issued by the General Administration of Land and Dry Ports of Egypt under a public-private partnership model and managed by the PPP department of the Ministry of Finance of North African countries.

Facilities overview

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development provided part of the funding for the construction of the US$176 million hub. The hub is scheduled to be put into operation in 2022 and can handle 720 containers (20-foot equivalent units) per day, totaling approximately 250,000 TEUs per year.

It will include container yards, communication and control systems, solar systems for power generation, lifting and transportation equipment, tractors, railways and UV inspection systems. The hub also aims to provide other facilities, such as a comprehensive customs department headquarters, and administrative offices related to port projects, such as the General Administration of Land and Dry Ports, project companies, shipping company agents, and transportation, settlement, and transportation companies.

The future port is expected to create at least 3,500 direct and indirect jobs.Editor/Huang Lijun