By:
Robert Kwaku Annor
The African Union Commission
for Infrastructure and Energy and the Egyptian government have discussed ways
to strengthen transport connectivity and accelerate the delivery of priority
regional infrastructure projects across Africa.
The discussions took place
in Cairo, when AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Lerato D. Mataboge
met with Egypt’s Minister of Transport, Lieutenant General Kamel El-Wazir.
The meeting formed part of
the Commission’s ongoing engagement with AU Member States to align national
infrastructure efforts with continental priorities and strengthen cooperation
on regional project delivery.
Mataboge commended Egypt’s
substantial infrastructure investments, including the railway link connecting
Cairo to the New Administrative Capital, and praised the leadership guiding the
country’s infrastructure transformation.
The discussions covered the
Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), including the
mid-term review of its Priority Action Plan II. The review provides an
opportunity to assess progress, consider the inclusion of new priority projects
and address implementation bottlenecks.
Mataboge also reaffirmed her
commitment to reinvigorating the Presidential Infrastructure Champion
Initiative (PICI), working closely with Egypt and other Member States.
The initiative provides a
mechanism for mobilising high-level political leadership to overcome
cross-border coordination challenges and unlock progress on strategic regional
projects.
Egypt expressed its
readiness to support continental infrastructure development by sharing its
experience and technical expertise.
Further engagements during
Mataboge’s visit were expected to explore cooperation on Africa’s connectivity
and integration priorities, including a visit to the project office for the
Establishment of a Navigational Line between Lake Victoria and the Mediterranean
Sea (VICMED).
VICMED, a PIDA project, aims
to connect East and Central Africa to the Mediterranean through an integrated
waterway and multimodal transport network to facilitate trade and regional
integration.
