STORY: Egypt's largest container terminal to operate by 2025: senior executive
SHOOTING TIME: May 30, 2024
DATELINE: June 1, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:32
LOCATION: AIN SOKHNA, Egypt
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of container terminal at Ain Sokhna port
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): MOHAMED KHALIL, Manager of the Ain Sokhna port development project
3. various of container terminal at Ain Sokhna port 

STORYLINE:

An Egyptian executive has announced that a new large container terminal at Ain Sokhna port on the Red Sea, developed by an international consortium led by China's Hutchison Ports, will start operations by 2025.
   
Mohamed Khalil, manager of the port development project, told Xinhua on Thursday that the terminal, spanning 2,600 meters and covering a total area of 1.6 million square meters, will be Egypt's largest upon completion. It will have the capacity to accommodate ships of up to 400 meters in length.

The consortium, consisting of China's Hutchison Ports, Chinese state-owned COSCO Shipping, and the French shipping company CMA CGM, is undertaking extensive works at Ain Sokhna port, including the installation of large cranes and the construction of administrative buildings, according to Khalil. He mentioned that the first ship is anticipated to be received in 2025.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic): MOHAMED KHALIL, Manager of the Ain Sokhna port development project 
"It is important to establish new strategic international partnerships for mutual benefit. Egypt's strategic location serves the interests of these major companies in logistics and transportation, allowing us to benefit from their experience, capabilities, and trade lines."

According to Egypt's Ministry of Transportation, Egypt and the consortium signed two agreements in March 2023 to develop and operate the container terminals at Ain Sokhna port and Dekheila port in northern Alexandria Province. The ministry estimates direct revenues from these projects to reach about 5 billion U.S. dollars over the 30-year contract period.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ain Sokhna, Egypt.
(XHTV)