Lieutenant General Kamel El-Wazir, Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Industry, concluded his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) with a tour of the Islamic Jeddah Port.
Key Highlights
- Strategic Location: The port is a major hub on the Red Sea, serving trade traffic and pilgrims, and linking Asia, Europe, and Africa.
- State-of-the-Art Facilities: The port features 62 berths, 4 terminals, and comprehensive logistics services, including handling equipment, warehouses, and vessel bunkering.
Port Tour
- Terminals and Facilities: El-Wazir visited various terminals, including container handling terminals, a logistics village, general cargo terminals, and maritime repair docks.
- Pilgrims’ Reception Halls: He inspected the facilities catering to pilgrims, showcasing their capacity to handle large volumes of travelers.
- Cruise Terminal: The minister also visited the terminal for tourist vessels, highlighting the port’s importance as a gateway for cruise ships in KSA.
New Initiatives
- Navigational Lines: El-Wazir reviewed plans for new navigational lines to be launched by Saudi Arabia, aiming to increase KSA ports’ connectivity with eastern and western ports.
- Integration and Cooperation: He emphasized the importance of integration between seaports and maritime linkage between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, citing Egypt’s significant developments in its maritime transport sector.
Egypt’s Maritime Transport Sector
- Expansion and Development: Egypt has established three new ports, bringing the total to 18, with ongoing projects to expand berths, terminals, and navigational channels.
- Attracting Major Operators: The sector has attracted six major shipping lines and seven international operators, aligning with Egypt’s plan to become a regional hub for transport, logistics, and transit trade.
