AYV News, July 15, 2025
Sierra Leone and Egypt have taken a significant step toward strengthening bilateral relations in the transport sector, following a high-level meeting held on July 8, 2025 in Cairo between senior officials from both countries.
The meeting, which took place at Egypt’s Ministry of Transport headquarters, brought together Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Ambassador Col. (Rtd.) Alhaji Fanday Turay Esq. and Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport and Industry, H.E. General Kamel El-Wazir.
Ambassador Alhaji Fanday Turay was joined by Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency Ambassador Sadiq Sillah, in leading a delegation focused on expanding cooperation in aviation, maritime, road and port infrastructure development.
In his opening remarks, Minister Alhaji Fanday Turay expressed gratitude on behalf of His Excellency President Brigadier (Rtd.) Julius Maada Bio for Egypt’s warm reception and longstanding support. He emphasized the shared commitment of both countries to deepening collaboration, particularly through existing Memoranda of Understanding which cover areas such as aviation training, port modernization and logistics development.
“This engagement is a critical part of our strategy to build resilient and efficient transport systems that not only serve national priorities but also align with continental goals like the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” Ambassador Alhaji Fanday Turay stated.
General El-Wazir warmly welcomed the Sierra Leonean delegation and reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to enhance cooperation. He noted that Egypt remains committed to supporting Sierra Leone’s infrastructure development ambitions and is open to sharing its technological advancements and institutional expertise.
“The relationship between Egypt and Sierra Leone is a model of African solidarity,” General El-Wazir said. “We are confident that this collaboration will result in tangible progress for both our countries.”
Following the meeting, the Sierra Leonean delegation was given an extensive tour of Egypt’s cutting-edge transport infrastructure projects within the New Administrative Capital. Organized with the support of Ambassador Sadiq Sillah, the tour included visits to:
• The High-Speed Train Station, a symbol of Egypt’s push for advanced railway systems;
• The Light Rail Transit Station, where delegates boarded a train to Adly Mansour Station;
• The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station on the Ring Road, designed to reduce urban congestion; and
• A series of newly constructed bridges executed by the Hassan Allam Company, showcasing Egypt’s rapid progress in modern infrastructure development.
The bilateral visit is expected to lead to expanded cooperation agreements, technical assistance programs and investment opportunities between the two nations, contributing to regional integration and sustainable development across Africa.
