Ashraf AboArafe
In a moment where geography meets ambition, Lieutenant General Osama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), and Ms. Nangula Hamunyela, CEO of the Namibian Ports Authority, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in port development and maritime training. The ceremony took place at the SCA’s Guidance Building in Ismailia, in the presence of Vice Chairman Vice Admiral Ashraf Atwa, members of the Authority’s Board, and Engineer Abdel Hakim Abdel Nasser.
The MoU crowns the Suez Canal Authority’s sustained efforts to expand its external presence across Africa, translating its southward vision into tangible partnerships. It aims to foster the exchange of expertise and enhance bilateral cooperation in key fields, most notably marine construction works, the sale and chartering of marine units, as well as advanced maritime training through the SCA’s specialized maritime training and simulation academies.
Lieutenant General Osama Rabiee affirmed the SCA’s full readiness to embark on productive and constructive cooperation with the Namibian Ports Authority, in line with the Authority’s expanding overseas projects and its strategic objective of opening new markets and deepening engagement with the African continent.
He highlighted the successful development and reopening of Libya’s Sirte Port after 14 years of closure as a landmark achievement and a promising starting point for the Authority’s external projects with friendly and sister nations.
The SCA Chairman directed that all necessary support be provided and procedures facilitated to ensure the effective launch of joint projects, noting that the Authority possesses an integrated system of maritime and logistical services supported by its affiliated shipyards and companies, capable of delivering comprehensive solutions.
For her part, Ms. Nangula Hamunyela expressed her aspiration to cooperate with the Suez Canal Authority in implementing Namibia’s ambitious port development plan. She noted that Namibia’s ports are among the largest in West Africa, stressing that this cooperation reflects the strength of relations between Egypt and Namibia and will contribute to advancing their shared interests.
She further explained that the MoU offers a valuable opportunity to explore wide-ranging avenues of cooperation, praising the diversity and depth of the SCA’s capabilities in maritime manufacturing, marine construction, and training. She emphasized that the Authority’s advanced technologies and extensive experience will play a pivotal role in accelerating development efforts at Namibian ports, reducing reliance on external expertise from other continents, and supporting technology transfer and local capacity building.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Engineer Nashat Nasr El-Din, Director of Movements Department at the Suez Canal Authority, and Mr. Andreas Kanime, Chief Executive Officer of the Namibian Ports Authority.
The visit also included a review of a lineup of various marine units produced by the SCA’s affiliated shipyards and companies, a tour of the floating pontoons and concrete buoy factory at the Canal Company for Ports and Major Projects, and a visit to the SCA’s Maritime Training and Simulation Academy—where the Authority’s philosophy of building human capacity before ships comes vividly to life.
Official Spokesperson of the Suez Canal Authority
George Safwat
