In line with the directives of the political leadership, and upon the assignment of His Excellency Lieutenant General Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, to strengthen cooperation ties with sister African countries, the Alexandria Port Authority received a high-level delegation from the Republic of Sierra Leone, headed by Mr. Alhaji Vande Touray, Minister of Transport and Aviation.The meeting was attended by His Excellency the Ambassador of Sierra Leone to Cairo, a number of senior officials from the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, and members of the diplomatic mission. On the Egyptian side, the reception and discussions were attended by Rear Admiral Nihad Shahin, Deputy Minister of Transport for Maritime Transport, and Rear Admiral Tariq Abdullah, Head of the Maritime Transport and Logistics Sector.Major General Ihab Salah, Chairman of the Alexandria Port Authority, and Major General Hussein El-Gezery, Chairman of the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety, along with a number of specialized leaders from the Alexandria Port Authority. This visit, the third from the Sierra Leonean side to the port of Alexandria,Continuing a trajectory of growing relations between the two countries, the port previously hosted two delegations in March 2023 and September 2024, one of which culminated in the signing of a significant memorandum of understanding between the two countries' ministries of transport. During this visit, the Sierra Leonean side expressed its aspiration to enhance cooperation and benefit from Egypt's successful experience in the fields of maritime transport, port development, investment, and expertise exchange.The visit included an intensive discussion session, including a presentation by the Egyptian side on the Alexandria Port Authority. The presentation included a detailed explanation of the port's most prominent projects and developments, its logistical importance, and its pivotal role in the regional and international trade system. This is in line with the vision of transforming Alexandria into the "Greater Port of Alexandria," as Africa's gateway to the world and a cultural and commercial meeting point between continents.The discussions also addressed a number of promising areas for cooperation, most notably training and human capacity building, digital transformation, environmental protection, and improving operational efficiency. They also discussed investment opportunities in Sierra Leone's ports and inland waterways, industrial and commercial integration, strengthening public-private partnerships, and exchanging expertise in maritime safety and maritime labor.Following the discussions, the delegation toured the Alexandria Port, including the historic port museum, the marine passenger terminal, the commercial docks, and the Tahya Misr multi-purpose terminal. They were briefed on modern technologies, operational processes, and executive procedures implemented to enhance the port's performance. At the conclusion of the visit,Mr. Alhaji Vande Touray, Minister of Transport and Aviation of the Republic of Sierra Leone, expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to the Egyptian government and the Ministry of Transport for the warm welcome and deep cooperation he received. He praised the remarkable development achieved by Egyptian ports, especially the Port of Alexandria, which reflects accumulated expertise and a promising strategic vision. He also affirmed his country's keenness to implement the areas of cooperation discussed on the ground.And to push for practical steps towards sustainable partnerships that contribute to supporting development and strengthening ties between the two brotherly peoples.
