 |
Egypt Transport & Communication Systems
Evidence of this can be seen in Queen Hatshbsut's naval campaign to the land of Pont, (currently Somalia) in B.C. 1491. Ancient Egyptians also constructed roads and transported goods by boats over the River Nile to the Mediterranean.
Egypt Transport Railways
Railways lines in Egypt transport system are 28 lines and extending some 9435 km with 796 stations and 1800 trains moving back and forth over 135 thousand km (2005/06). Meanwhile, passenger movement is calculated at 54400 million/km, the movement of goods and commodities at 43000 million tons/km.
Egypt transport system is the first one in Africa and the Middle East to have an Underground Metro. Investments in the project, which now links the three governorates of Greater Cairo (Cairo, Giza and Qalyubiyah) are estimated to have reached EGP12 billion. Egypt's Underground Metro daily carries some 3 million passengers across two lines extending around 64.6 km in all. Another metro line is currently under construction, which will run 4.3 km at the cost of EGP3.6 billion.
Egypt transport system has a network of highways covering the country and extending around 48.1 thousand km. Passengers transported in 2005/06 are estimated to have reached 135,270 million; goods and commodities 44940 million tons. Egypt also boasts a network of bridges, which contributes to smoothing the flow of traffic. So far, 181 bridges stand throughout the country: 36 of which are straddling the Nile; 85 suspended
A network of river transport, extending 35 thousand km across the Nile, contributes to the transport of 2590 million tons/km of goods and commodities (2005/06). Maritime Transport Egypt transport system has 40 seaports in all. 12 are commercial ports; 6 mining ports; 6 fishing ports; 5 marinas; and 10 oil-shipping ports. Overall seaport holding capacity has risen to 66.8 million tons (2005/06). Docks have also increased to 175, which has contributed in turn to the increasing of passengers transported by sea-faring ships to 740 thousand. Egypt's commercial fleet includes 135 units with an overall holding capacity of 2 million tons, which has contributed to a 10,916-thousand-ton rise in the movement of goods and commodities (2005/06).
Egypt transport system has 30 airports. With the number of planes having reached 47, air flights could access 72 capitals internationally and 12 cities locally. Flight movement is estimated at 108 thousand planes in Cairo International Airport; 76 thousand in the other airports. Passengers transported by air have increased to 11.2 million in Cairo International Airport; 10.5 million in the other airports. Air-transported goods have reached 311.4 million tons/km (2005/06 figures).
The Suez Canal links the world's East and West and contributes to reviving international trade. It is Egypt's major revenue-generator, pumping daily $5.5 million into the country's treasury. Besides being the world's longest natural navigation waterway, cutting by 40 per cent the sailing duration and cost of traveling from East Asia to Europe and vice-versa, the Canal averages about 8% of the world's shipping traffic. Revenues from the Canal from July 2005 to May 2006 totaled $3.246 billion. In 2005, 18,193 vessels passed through the canal. Suez Canal Modernization In terms of modernizing the waterway, the Suez Canal Authority has achieved the following:
Communications and Information Technology Communications
Telephone services are spreading nation-wide. Telephone-line density has reached 14.9 per cent in 2006. Telephone lines multiplied from 6.4 million in 1999 to 12.9 million in 2006. Subscribers to main fixed lines have reached 10,628 million. Village centers have also doubled in number and are put at 1138. Cellular phone users are estimated at 14.8 million; internet users at 5.4 million (2006 figures). The number of internet free-of-charge minutes until August 2006 has reached 932.61. E-government The purpose of e-government is to provide public services to citizens, corporations and investors whereever they are, as quickly and as efficiently as possible through the internet. In addition, it proposes to raise government sector efficiency, boost the role of the private sector and provide accurate information to support the process of decision-making and promote investments.
The first ministry to hold the portfolio of technology, information and communication was instituted in 1999. Its mandate:
In 2005, software export earnings were put at $150 million. Meanwhile, the number of information and communications technology companies rose from 266 in 1999 to 1817 in 2006, with workers estimated to have reached 42,322. Postal Services Egypt has been a member of the Universal Postal Union since 1874. It has also helped establish the Arab and the African postal unions. The number of post offices increased nation-wide to about 5457 in 2005/06; mechanized offices to 450. Information Technology Development Communities The Technology Valley Implemented in 1995, the project proposes to create a hi-tech industrial area complete with research and training centers. It seeks to multiply job opportunities in the Canal Zone and Sinai and attract more foreign investments. The Technology Valley stretches over an area of 16.5 thousand feddans (16,608.519 acres) on the East Bank of the Suez Canal. The 4-phase project is estimated to cost $12 billion in investments. The Smart Village Located west of Cairo, it stretches over an area of 450 feddans (467.1 acres); 317 feddans (329.046 acres) of which are allotted to administrative buildings; the rest to green areas, recreational lakes and falls. The amount of capital having gone into establishing the Smart Village is put at EGP100 million, with the private sector contributing no less than EGP80 million. Contracts have been signed with five international companies to have them set shop there. Companies working in the Village have multiplied from 20 to 85. The Center for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage The CULTNAT is dedicated to preserving what is essentially Egypt's claim to fame: its incredible heritage. The center is located in the Smart Village on the Cairo-Alexandria road. CULTNAT has undertaken an ambitious, but daunting task.
The mandate is to accurately document Egypt's tangible and intangible cultural and natural heritage in the broad fields of archaeology, architecture, nature, folklore, music, photography, and Islamic manuscripts. The website "Love Egypt the Gift of the Sun" brings to light over five thousand years of Egyptian civilization. Love Egypt is a living record of a land rich in art and history, people and places, myths and religions.
From Egypt Transport return Home
|
Ancient Egypt transport system was the first in the world. The Ancient Egyptians knew about navigation and ship-building long before the rest of the world.
Underground Metro
Highways and Bridges
River transport
Air Transport
The Suez Canal
Information Technology:
