India, Egypt to enhance ties for waterways development

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari called on his Egyptian counterpart to discuss ways to improve bilateral ties in the waterways and ports sectors.
Gadkari is in Egypt representing India at the inaugural ceremony of new Suez Canal on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Gadkari called on the Egyptian transport minister Eng Hany Dahy here (Cairo)...The two ministers agreed to enhance cooperation between India and Egypt in the area of Inland waterways and port development. An MoU is scheduled to be signed in this regard," an official statement from Road Transport and Highways Ministry said here.
The Egyptian Minister also expressed keen interest in India's ambitious plans for infrastructure development.

It said, "Both leaders exchanged ideas on innovative financing for PPP (public, private, partnership) projects and use of new technology in areas of green transport, river transport & ports etc.
"The Egyptian river transport authority organised a Nile river cruise for Gadkari and gave him a presentation on the river transport in Nile," the statement said.

The talks to enhance cooperation in the area of waterways come at a time when Gadkari, keen to promote water infrastructure, has already announced to convert 101 rivers across the country into National Waterways.
India, at present, has only five National Waterways and many of the stretches are not functional.

The statement said Gadkari congratulated the Egyptian Minister on the completion of new Suez Canal project in record time of 11 months.