Minister of Transport Kamel el Wazir discussed on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, with Japanese Ambassador to Egypt Fumio Iwai ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in transport and reviewed progress achieved in joint projects, particularly Phase 1 of Cairo Metro Line 4.
The meeting addressed ways to expand the Egyptian-Japanese partnership in transport and boost Japanese companies’ participation in investment in the sector, supporting Egypt’s development plans and strengthening economic and investment cooperation between the two countries.
During the meeting, Wazir underscored the depth of the ties between the political leaderships and the peoples of Egypt and Japan, praising the fruitful and constructive cooperation in implementing a number of joint transport projects. He also expressed the Transport Ministry’s keenness to further expand cooperation with Japan in the sector.
For his part, Iwai expressed pleasure at the meeting and praised the fruitful cooperation between the two sides in implementing several projects, foremost among them Phase 1 of Metro Line 4. He said Japanese companies have shown strong interest in investing in Egypt, particularly in light of the promising investment climate being pursued by the Egyptian government.
The two sides also reviewed ongoing cooperation in implementing Phase 1 of Metro Line 4, which runs from 6th of October City to Fustat over 19 km and includes 17 stations. The project is being implemented in cooperation with Japanese company Mitsubishi, which is handling electromechanical works and the workshop, as well as rolling stock for Phase 1, comprising 23 trains.
The project is also being implemented, for the first time in Egypt, using six tunnel-boring machines for underground construction. The two sides said Metro Line 4 would be implemented in four phases. Work has begun on Phase 2, which will run from Fustat to New Cairo, while efforts are underway to swiftly finalize tender documents for the systems and rolling stock for the second phase in coordination with the Japanese side.
Studies are also underway for Phase 3, running from Hadayek Al-Ashgar to Al-Hosary Square, and Phase 4, which will connect New Cairo with the Capital Airport. Meanwhile, the meeting reviewed the latest developments in joint cooperation on training and capacity building.