The “Cairo-Cape Town” Highway (CCTH) project, aimed to be inaugurated this year, is a monumental infrastructure undertaking that will connect 11 African countries over a distance of 10,228 kilometres, with 1,155 kilometres of it passing through Egypt. Here are the key points about the project:
The CCTH will significantly reduce travel time between northern and southern Africa, bringing the journey down to an average of five days. This initiative fulfils the longstanding aspiration to establish a direct link between Cairo and South Africa.
The highway begins at the port of Alexandria on the Mediterranean Sea, traversing through Cairo before extending southward through Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and finally reaching South Africa.
Within Egypt, the highway will pass through several governorates, including Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya, Assiut, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, and Aswan. This will improve connectivity and potentially stimulate economic development in these regions.
The Ministry of Transport has also initiated cooperation with Sudan to build a railway line, aiming to extend from Aswan to the south of Wadi Halfa. This collaboration is supported by financing from the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development and underscores the broader goal of enhancing transportation infrastructure in the region.
The CCTH project will facilitate increased trade and economic integration among African countries. It is seen as a crucial component of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, providing opportunities for job creation and comprehensive development across the continent.
Egypt’s partnership with Sudan and funding support from the Kuwait Fund highlight the collaborative nature of this project. Furthermore, South Africa has expressed its interest in cooperating with Egypt to enhance transportation infrastructure and boost trade within the African continent.
Overall, the inauguration of the CCTH holds significant promise for fostering regional connectivity, economic growth, and cooperation among African nations.
