Egypt's Transport Ministry Denies Resurfaced Old Statements: Our Facilities Are Not for Sale

Egypt's Ministry of Transport has issued an official statement in response to what it described as the malicious re-sharing of old remarks attributed to Lieutenant General Engineer Kamel El-Wazir, Minister of Transport, from the early days of his tenure. The ministry stated that these statements are being recirculated at this time with the intent to stir confusion, spread rumors, and mislead public opinion regarding the ongoing development efforts across the country's transport sectors.

Old Statements, Not Recent Remarks

The Ministry of Transport clarified that the resurfaced remarks—concerning a lack of sufficient cooperation from some railway officials and employees at the start of the minister's term—were made during an earlier period, on the sidelines of signing a contract for upgrading signaling systems on the Nag Hammadi–Luxor line. The ministry added that those remarks were made in the context of emphasizing the need for diligent work within the Egyptian Railway Authority and preventing any negligence or delay that could hinder development efforts or endanger public safety.

Motivating Workers, Not Attacking Them

The ministry stressed that the minister's statements at the time were intended to motivate railway employees and all transport sector workers, especially given his pledge to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian people to develop this vital facility with the dedication of its loyal workers. It emphasized that the past years have witnessed significant progress in the railway sector and a clear improvement in the level of services provided to citizens, which has become tangible across various segments of the facility.

Transport Facilities Belong to the People

The Ministry of Transport denied the claims circulated by some pages that the minister's remarks aimed to enable, integrate, or employ foreign workers within state institutions, affirming that these allegations are completely false. The ministry stressed that all transport facilities and sectors have never been—and will never be—for sale, and that they belong to the Egyptian people. It clarified that cooperation with Egyptian private sector companies or some international firms is limited to areas of management, operation, knowledge transfer, and localizing industry, while the state retains full ownership of the facilities and sectors.

Partnerships to Improve Service and Boost Returns

The ministry pointed out that collaboration with the private sector aims to improve service quality, transfer expertise, and achieve greater returns that benefit the national economy. It cited examples, including the work of the Al-Ghar... consortium in developing some transport services, affirming that these partnerships are conducted within clear legal frameworks that protect the rights of both the state and investors.