EU and France sign metro line deal with Egypt

The European Union and France have signed a US$1.2 billion agreement with the Egyptian government to fund the construction of a new metro extension. The agreement, signed by the EU and the French Development Agency, fulfils nearly half of the French commitments allocated for Egypt during the Deauville summit in 2011 aimed at supporting the Arab Spring, the EU said. France has already provided financial and technical support for Cairo’s two existing metro lines built in the 1980s, which has helped ease Cair
September 24, 2012
The European Union and France have signed a US$1.2 billion agreement with the Egyptian government to fund the construction of a new metro extension.  The agreement, signed by the EU and the French Development Agency, fulfils nearly half of the French commitments allocated for Egypt during the Deauville summit in 2011 aimed at supporting the Arab Spring, the EU said.

France has already provided financial and technical support for Cairo’s two existing metro lines built in the 1980s, which has helped ease Cairo’s notorious traffic congestion.

The third line – the first phase of which became operational in March – will carry up to 1.8 million passengers a day, the EU said.

International bids will be launched by the beginning of 2013, and the implementation of the project is expected to take eight years, it said.