Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, has signed a development grant agreement worth €1.4 million with Mr. Eduardo Soriano, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Spanish Embassy in Egypt. The grant will finance the initial feasibility study for the extension of Cairo’s first metro line (from New Marg to Shebin El-Kanater), as part of Egypt’s Country Platform for the National Water, Food, and Energy (NWFE) Program, under the sustainable transport projects segment. The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, with notable attendees, including Mr. Álvaro Iranzu Gutiérrez, the Spanish Ambassador to Egypt, Eng. Wagdy Redwan, Deputy Minister of Transport, Eng. Tarek Hamid Gawily, Chairman of the National Authority for Tunnels, and Eng. Wael Naeem, Assistant Minister of Transport for Investment and External Finance, among others.
A Strong Partnership for Sustainable Development
The grant will support the Ministry of Transport and the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) in preparing a comprehensive feasibility study for 8-month metro extension, which will be carried out by the Spanish company Typsa, under a contract with NAT.
Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted that the agreement with Spain is part of Egypt’s ongoing efforts to integrate local resources with international partnerships to accelerate development. She emphasized that metro projects are among the most successful examples of such partnerships, providing an eco-friendly mode of transport across Greater Cairo. The extension of the first metro line to Shebin El-Kanater aligns with Egypt’s broader strategy to enhance sustainable transport infrastructure.
She further explained that expanding sustainable and eco-friendly projects is a cornerstone of Egypt’s economic development. In this regard, the Ministry of Planning, through the Country Platform for the NWFE Program, focuses on strengthening international collaborations in sustainable transport projects. These include the Cairo Metro extension, the development of the Alexandria Abou Qir railway line into an electric metro, and other projects designed to improve connectivity between Egypt’s governorates and strengthen the country’s sustainable infrastructure.
Strengthening Egypt-Spain Relations
Dr. Al-Mashat also praised the longstanding and fruitful relations between Egypt and Spain, noting that both countries are eager to expand their cooperation in areas such as green economy transformation and sustainable development efforts. She pointed out Spain’s upcoming role in hosting the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, which will contribute to advancing Egypt’s development goals and accelerating financial restructuring on the global stage.
Ongoing Collaboration on Key Development Projects
The Minister also recalled her meeting with the Spanish Ambassador in Cairo at the end of 2024, where they discussed future collaborations. They signed two additional grants totaling €800,000 from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation. These grants will support two key initiatives: one aimed at “Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Egyptian Sugar Factories,” and another focused on “Job Creation for Youth and the Establishment of Companies – Phase II.”
A History of Collaboration
Egypt and Spain’s development cooperation dates back to the 1990s, with the signing of a cooperation protocol in February 1998 that saw Spain extend €255 million in development funding to Egypt. This was followed by a memorandum of understanding in 2008, providing €250 million in additional funds. Over the years, the cooperation between the two nations has spanned various sectors, including transport, housing, wastewater treatment, renewable energy, small and medium-sized enterprise financing, and cultural heritage preservation. The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation has also provided grants in fields such as health, women’s empowerment, tourism, governance, and sustainable development.
