BrazilEgypt's government launches joint venture transport consulting firm
Egypt’s Ministry of Transport has signed a memorandum of understanding with a consortium of private sector companies to establish a consulting firm for national transport projects.
Following a competitive tender process, the ministry has selected international engineering consulting companies Egis and Systra, in tandem with homegrown player Shaker Consultancy Group as the partners for the joint venture.
The French- Egyptian consortium will offer services in several transport fields, including conducting feasibility studies, transport consulting, design and supervision of projects, technical support, financial and legal assistance, and procurement support for project financing and delivery.
The scope of the new public-private consulting firm spans all modes of transport, including railways, subway, sea and land.
Upgrading ports is a key strategic pillar of Egypt’s Ministry of Transport, as the country seeks to professionals its international sea trade operations. The country also aims to upgrade its railway network, with thousands of new kilometres of track announced for construction, including the 2,000-kilometre high-speed electric train network.
The joint venture consultancy – its name still has yet to be unveiled – will ensure that (global) best practices and capabilities are brought to the Egyptian market, in order to ensure an effective and efficient delivery of transport planning and projects.
The group will also ensure the transfer of knowledge and capabilities to local staff, with the aim to “gradually reduce dependence on foreign expertise and cadres”, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that the joint venture will contribute to the expansion of work in Egypt as a center for the Middle East and Africa, increase international competition and the distribution of initial capital contribution among the parties, and make project delivery more feasible due to shared resourcing and budgeting.
