German giant Siemens reported last night (Sat) the biggest deal in its 175-year history: a € 8.1 billion contract to supply high-speed trains to Egypt. The deal is further evidence of the tightening economic and security ties between Germany and Egypt led by President al-Sisi. In addition to advanced submarines and billion-dollar vessels manufactured by German industry, Egypt has signed a € 8 billion deal with Siemens to build a series of power plants.
The current plan includes modernizing the old railway infrastructure in Egypt, and is expected to provide train access to about 90% of the country’s population, according to the company and the Egyptian government. It includes the construction of new lines, the provision of 41 high-speed trains that will travel at speeds of up to 230 km / h, 41 freight trains and other components. It is expected to be relevant to about 60 urban centers in Egypt.
The two sides signed the agreement in a special ceremony attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Siemens CEO Roland Bosch. Part of the project will include the construction of railway lines from the shores of the Red Sea to Alexandria, which may be used to transport containers and cargo from the east, another line will connect Cairo and Abu Simbel, along the Nile;
Relations between the two countries have strengthened significantly since al-Sisi took control of Egypt in a military coup. Since a replica agreement was signed for the construction of power turbines, the two countries have signed an agreement to combat illegal refugees and Egypt exports liquefied natural gas to Europe, including Germany. Last December, the German transitional government approved the sale to Egypt of three state-of-the-art battleships as well as surface-to-air missiles for defense in its final day in office.