The Memorandum of cooperation between the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority and authorities of two Egyptian ports — Alexandria and Damietta — was signed in Kyiv on 2nd of November, USPA says in a press release. In the future, it is planned to establish a bilateral working group with representatives of shipping lines, traders, port operators to discuss the implementation of joint projects.
The signing was held in Kyiv within the framework of the Seventh Meeting of the Intergovernmental Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between Ukraine and the Arab Republic of Egypt. From the Egyptian side, the Memorandum was signed by the Minister of Investment and International Cooperation of the Arab Republic of Egypt, HE Dr. Sahar Nasr, from the Ukrainian side – Head of Odessa branch of the USPA (Odessa Seaport Authority), Igor Tkachuk.
“The port of Odessa has a great experience of cooperation with the ports of Egypt. The cargo turnover between our ports is more than 4.5 million tons per year. More than half of these cargoes is export of agrarian products from Ukraine. The signing of the Memorandum will be an additional stimulus and a basis for the further development of bilateral cooperation”,— commented Igor Tkachuk.
In turn, the Minister of Investment and International Cooperation of the Arab Republic of Egypt, HE Dr. Sahar Nasr, noted that the authorities of the Arab Republic of Egypt welcome the intensification of dialogue and cooperation with Ukraine both at the interstate and the sector levels, in particular, it concerns the interaction between the ports of Ukraine and Egypt.
In the near future, it is planned to create a joint working group, which will include representatives of the USPA and the authorities of the Egyptian ports, shipping lines, traders, port operators. Its’ task will be to discuss the implementation of joint investment projects and increase cargo turnover between our countries.
Also, the signed Memorandum provides for a comprehensive exchange of information, mutual assistance of shipping companies, importers, exporters and forwarders, exchange of experience in the field of modernization of the port infrastructure, improving the quality of servicing vessels, development of IT services and technologies.
Alexandria is a city in the Nile delta, the main seaport and the second largest city in Egypt. The port is connected to the Nile by a navigable channel. Annual turnover — 15 million tons, accounting for about 80% of the total volume of foreign trade in Egypt.
In the 1960s and 1970s, a large amount of industrial equipment was transported by sea from Odessa to Alexandria, mainly for the Aswan Highland Dam, a key building of the largest hydropower site in northern Africa.
Port Damietta is located on the Mediterranean coast, 200 km east of Alexandria. It has terminals for general and bulk cargo. According to the 2015 draft, the capacity of the port for handling grain is increased to 7.5 million tons. There is a LPG plant (SEGAS LNG), a container terminal, a mineral fertilizer plant on the port territory.