An Emirati -African ministerial meeting to enhance cooperation in the transportation, railway and infrastructure sectors

Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, and Suhail bin Muhammad Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, witnessed a high -level ministerial meeting hosted by the Federation Track Company in the capital, Abu Dhabi, in the presence of His Excellency Shadi Malik, CEO of Al Ittihad train company and with the official participation of five African countries, along with a group of representatives of the ministries of transport, infrastructure, trade and industry in both Kenya, Chad, South Sudan, and South Sudan, Uganda and Cameroon, in a move that reflects the UAE’s commitment to support sustainable development and enhance cooperation with friendly countries around the world.

The ministerial meeting was held in partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Energy, Infrastructure and Union trains, with the aim of building long -term strategic relations with African countries in the fields of transportation, infrastructure, logistics and railways.

The ministerial meeting included discussing the projects of the Federation Track Company, as the developer and operator of the National Railways Network in the UAE, and to see the lessons learned from the Emirati experience in developing an integrated system of railways, including the successful operation of the goods train for more than two years at the state level, and to discuss ways to benefit from them in the countries participating in the meeting.

The meeting was attended by African countries Madot Pierre Yale, Minister of Transport in South Sudan, Gueulu Vanga, Minister of Trade and Industry in Chad, Davis Tashrcher, Minister of Transport in Kenya, and Dr. Cindy Richard Nianzi Hans, Assistant Undersecretary Head of Planning and Strategy – Standard Railways Project – Ministry of Works and Transport in Uganda.

The meeting was also attended by the distance of Claude Netoni, General Director of Railways at the Ministry of Transport in Cameroon.

During the meeting, Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan and Suhail Al Mazrouei witnessed the exchange of two memoranda of understanding between the Federation trains and the Ministry of Transport in the Republic of South Sudan, and in the Republic of Chad, with the aim of strengthening cooperation frameworks between the authorities, especially in the railway sector, infrastructure projects, transporting experiences and exchanging knowledge to enhance transportation systems, including the feasibility study related to the development of railway projects, logistical services and structure Infrastructure in the countries participating in the meeting.

Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan said that such partnerships represent an extension of the vision of the United Arab Emirates in extending bridges of cooperation with its partners in the African continent, not only by transferring knowledge and exchanging experiences, but by supporting infrastructure projects and developing transportation and logistical services sectors to serve the goals of national and regional development..

He added, “We are firmly convinced that integration in these sectors is an essential pillar of economic growth, and we fill in the pride that the UAE is a reliable partner in this ambitious march that serves the interests of all parties concerned“.

For his part, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, stressed that the rail transport sector is a pivotal pillar in building modern economies that simulate the future, indicating that the UAE, and based on its advisory vision, works through the Federation trains to construct an integrated national transport system linking various emirates and regions of the state, and today it is a model to be followed in the areas of logistical services, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

He added that the cooperation of the UAE with African countries in this vital sector embodies its deep belief in the importance of international partnership and joint work, as well as the development of cross -border strategic projects that contribute to achieving sustainable economic and social gains for all parties, in a way that establishes the UAE’s position as an active partner in supporting regional and global development“.

It is noteworthy that the Federation trains are working to develop and operate the national rail network in the country and contribute to the development of the transportation system in it, and during the past years, a firm position in the transportation sector in the country and an effective contribution to enhancing economic growth and continuing the comprehensive development process has been proceeded.