Neuilly-sur-Seine (France), 26 May 2014 – On the occasion of a visit to Paris by Egypt’s Transport Minister, H.E Prof. Ibrahim El-Dimeery, the Egyptian Ministry of Transport and Thales signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the creation of an Egyptian Academy of Transport Science and Technology (EATST). This partnership will support the development of the rail industry in Egypt, while delivering real added value to the country’s higher education sector.

The MoU builds on an initial partnership agreement signed between the Ministry of Transport and Thales in 2010 and broadens its scope through the creation of a truly multi-domain transport academy, north of Cairo.

Thales, via its corporate university, will carry out a feasibility study for the academy and propose academic and professional training programmes in the field of urban and main line rail. The academy will eventually be capable of welcoming more than 1,000 students and trainees, with an initial year group of 200 starting in 2014.

Egypt has a pressing need to train local talent in various rail industry fields, in particular following the government’s launch of an ambitious plan to modernise the country’s urban and main line rail infrastructure.

Thales is a long-standing partner of both the rail and training sectors in Egypt. In 2013, the Group won the first contract under the country’s modernisation plan, which called for the upgrade of the 208 kilometre-long Cairo-Alexandria line. Thales is also the main supplier of ticketing and communication systems for the Cairo metro.

Thales has extensive experience in knowledge transfers across all its areas of expertise. For example, the Group is currently partnering with Malaysian authorities in setting up a rail transport academy in Kuala Lumpur, and signed an agreement for the creation of a rail academy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January 2014.

The new MoU underlines once again that Thales is committed to supporting its customers by helping to develop their human resources as well as supplying technological solutions.

H.E Prof. Ibrahim El-Dimeery said: “This new joint initiative in the transport sector, and particularly in rail, will help us to develop the new generation of Egyptian engineers and managers, thereby serving the country’s strategic objectives. The partnership with Thales will allow the Egyptian Academy of Transport Science and Technology to deliver international-standard higher education for students and professionals.”

 

Michelangelo Neri, Managing Director of Thales in Egypt added: "This partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Transport follows on from projects already launched in 2010. Thales offers turnkey training solutions ranging from design and development to implementation and support for the creation of academies in technology sectors."

About the Egyptian Transport Ministry

The Transport sector constitutes one of the corner stones for development. It plays a fundamental role in utilising natural and human resources to achieve economic and social advancement. The Ministry of Transport strives to achieve sustainable transport networks, services, and infrastructure through investing capital into the maintenance and operation of existing transport facilities while promoting the use of innovative and advanced transport systems in new areas such as road network management, river transport, and operation of logistic centres.

Egypt benefits from a unique geographical location, which attracts trade and expands and promotes investment in maritime and logistics businesses. The Ministry of Transport will continue to assume its role as a stimulator of the national economy and a strong source of opportunities for direct foreign investment within an institutional and legislative environment.

 

Press contact

Egyptian Transport Ministry

Mahmoud Gamal El Din

Advisor to the Minister of Transport Investment and Business Development

mgamal@mot.gov.eg