Latest news with #KamelEl-Wazir
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt to run special train for Sudanese returning home - Foreign Affairs
Egypt's national railway announced on Monday that it will operate a designated train to facilitate the return of Sudanese nationals and their families to their homeland. The move comes 'within the … cooperation and close fraternal relations' between Egypt and Sudan, the Egyptian National Railways Authority said in a statement on Sunday. Train number 1940, a third-class air-conditioned service, will depart Cairo at 11:00 AM on Monday and arrive in Aswan at 11:00 PM. From Aswan, the Sudanese will continue their journey to Sudan via the High Dam Port, a Nile access to the neighbouring nation. Egyptian Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir has instructed railway officials to provide all necessary services to ensure the comfort and safe arrival of the Sudanese passengers, the statement added. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has reported a rise in voluntary returns of displaced Sudanese from neighbouring countries since January 2025, citing an improved security situation in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. Egypt, a haven for refugees fleeing conflicts besetting various neighbouring nations in recent years, currently accommodates the largest share of Sudanese who have fled their country since the outbreak of intense conflict. Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating conflict that erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This nearly two-year war has plunged the nation into what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The UN estimates that approximately 13 million people have been displaced either internally or externally, with over 3.5 million seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, including Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan. The recent influx of Sudanese refugees has significantly augmented the existing Sudanese population in Egypt. Government officials recently estimated the total number of Sudanese residing in the country at 5.5 million. According to a recent statement from Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), the country hosts an estimated nine million refugees in total, including four million from Sudan. In recent months, this influx has ignited a public debate within Egypt regarding the unprecedented pressure it places on the nation's public services and infrastructure. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt to run special train for Sudanese voluntarily returning home - Foreign Affairs
Egypt's national railway announced on Monday that it will operate a designated train to facilitate the voluntary return of Sudanese nationals and their families to their homeland. The move comes 'within the … cooperation and close fraternal relations' between Egypt and Sudan, the Egyptian National Railways Authority said in a statement on Sunday. Train number 1940, a third-class air-conditioned service, will depart Cairo at 11:00 AM on Monday and arrive in Aswan at 11:00 PM. From Aswan, the Sudanese will continue their journey to Sudan via the High Dam Port, a Nile access to the neighbouring nation. Egyptian Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir has instructed railway officials to provide all necessary services to ensure the comfort and safe arrival of the Sudanese passengers, the statement added. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has reported a rise in voluntary returns of displaced Sudanese from neighbouring countries since January 2025, citing an improved security situation in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. Egypt, a haven for refugees fleeing conflicts besetting various neighbouring nations in recent years, currently accommodates the largest share of Sudanese who have fled their country since the outbreak of intense conflict. Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating conflict that erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This nearly two-year war has plunged the nation into what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The UN estimates that approximately 13 million people have been displaced either internally or externally, with over 3.5 million seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, including Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan. The recent influx of Sudanese refugees has significantly augmented the existing Sudanese population in Egypt. Government officials recently estimated the total number of Sudanese residing in the country at 5.5 million. According to a recent statement from Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), the country hosts an estimated nine million refugees in total, including four million from Sudan. In recent months, this influx has ignited a public debate within Egypt regarding the unprecedented pressure it places on the nation's public services and infrastructure. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
15-07-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt to launch 5-year Japanese-inspired engineering diploma in September
Egypt signed a cooperation protocol with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Tuesday to launch a five-year Japanese-inspired engineering diploma in September for post-preparatory school students. The Industry Ministry's Productivity and Vocational Training Authority (PVTD) and the cabinet's Education Development Fund (EDF) have signed the protocol with the JICA. Per the agreement, the PVTD, in coordination with the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, will host the first group of students from the Egyptian-Japanese KOZEN Institute at its centre in 10th of Ramadan City in September for the advanced engineering programme. The KOZEN programme is a five-year advanced engineering education system inspired by Japan's system, focusing on early field exposure for post-preparatory school students. The diploma qualifies graduates to enrol in technological universities, engineering faculties, and computer science colleges. A cabinet statement said this strategic partnership aims to significantly improve the quality of graduates and align education with local, regional, and international labour market needs in relevant specialities. Moreover, the protocol includes advanced training programmes in microelectronics, semiconductors, green energy, and solar panels. It also aims to exchange knowledge, build students' capacity, and develop trainers for KOZEN instructors. Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir, Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel-Latif, and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ayman Ashour also attended the signing ceremony of the protocol. During the ceremony, El-Wazir stated that the initiative marks a significant milestone in the history of Egyptian industry and technical education, as it helps provide a skilled technical workforce to meet market needs. He added that it aligns with Egypt's vision for industrial advancement, which focuses on qualifying human resources by developing vocational training programmes in collaboration with the ministry. El-Wazir further emphasized the importance of benefiting from the Japanese experience in training technical labour to increase demand for Egyptian labour domestically and abroad. He also affirmed the ministry's commitment to upgrading training at the PVTD centres and enhancing labs to produce technically proficient graduates. "This aligns with the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regulations, requiring imports to meet green manufacturing standards starting in 2027," he said. International cooperation For his part, Minister Ashour praised this cooperation as a successful model of partnership with JICA, highlighting Japan's leadership in this area. He pointed to the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology, which qualifies students for the Egyptian, regional, and African labour markets. He stated that 40 cooperation protocols have previously been signed with major private sector investors to operate vocational training centres, aiming to help meet industry labour demands by developing trainers, engineers, and new specialisations. Meanwhile, Minister Abdel-Latif emphasized the ministry's strong focus on the technical education sector as a cornerstone of Egypt's economic and industrial future, the statement said. He highlighted the ministry's adoption of a new vision for technical education and the establishment of an internationally standardized education system that offers globally recognized certifications to graduates. Abdel-Latif also commended the effectiveness of the cooperation with Japan through the KOZEN model, as well as with Italy through the Don Bosco model, one of the most successful and long-standing systems in Egypt. Additionally, he affirmed that the ministry is working to expand cooperation with Germany and that new technical education schools and centres of excellence will be created with international standards. In May, Egypt and Germany signed a 118 million euro financial cooperation agreement in the education and energy sectors. This includes a 32 million euro grant to establish 25 Egyptian centres of excellence for supporting technical education. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
CairoScene
24-06-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
EGP Two Trillion Spent on Transport Sector From 2014 to 2024
The overhaul included 7,000 km of new roads, 10,000 km of upgraded roads, and extensive rail modernisation. Jun 24, 2025 Egypt has spent approximately EGP 2 trillion into developing its transport infrastructure between 2014 and 2024, Minister of Transport and Industry Kamel El-Wazir announced at the Builders of Egypt Forum. As part of this effort, Egypt constructed 7,000 km of new roads linking key industrial zones and upgraded 10,000 km of internal roads to facilitate more efficient freight movement across the country. A core component of the strategy is the ongoing railway modernisation programme, valued at EGP 225 billion. The initiative includes upgrades to 10,000 km of existing rail lines and the addition of 110 new locomotives supplied by General Electric. Egypt is also investing EGP 50 billion in modernising its railway signalling systems, with the aim of improving service reliability and reducing accident rates.
Al-Ahram Weekly
18-06-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Chinese Sunrev to build $200 mln solar energy complex in Egypt's SCZone - Energy
Chinese solar company Sunrev has signed an agreement to build a $200 million solar energy manufacturing complex in the China-Egypt TEDA-Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna within the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone). The TEDA zone—a joint industrial venture between China and Egypt established in 2008—is one of Egypt's key manufacturing hubs and has attracted over 160 companies in sectors such as construction materials, petroleum equipment, and heavy machinery. The two-phase project—covering 200,000 square metres and expected to create 1,800 direct jobs—will begin with the construction of two factories to produce solar cells and modules, each with a capacity of 2 gigawatts. The second phase will focus on localizing the production of key raw materials, including silicon ingots and wafers. Construction will begin with a foundation-laying ceremony on Thursday. The first phase will begin operations in the first half of 2026. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir, and SCZone chairman Walid Gamal El-Din attended the signing ceremony on Wednesday. Officials said the project will generate up to $300 million annually in export revenue, supplying regional and global markets. Sunrev, founded in 2008, operates nine production bases across Jiangsu province in China. It specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of photovoltaic components — including monocrystalline silicon wafers, high-efficiency solar cells, and large-scale modules — as well as the downstream construction of solar power plants. The TEDA zone has become a cornerstone of Chinese industrial investment in Egypt, and authorities say it has generated over 70,000 jobs since its establishment. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
