1. The inauguration ceremony of the Borg El Arab Int’l Airport Modernization Project was held at Borg El Arab Int’l Airport in Alexandria, Egypt on October 21, with the attendance of H.E. Hosni MUBARAK, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Also from the Egyptian side, H.E. Dr. Ahmed NAZIF, Prime Minister, H.E. Mrs. Fayza ABOULNAGA, Minister of International Cooperation, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Mohamed SHAFIK, Minister of Civil Aviation, H.E. Eng. Alaa El-Deen Mohamed FAHMY, Minister of Transport, H.E. Eng. Rachid Mohamed RACID, Minister of Trade and Industry, H.E. Field Marshal / Mohamed Hussein TANTAWI, Minister of Defense and Military Production and H.E. Mr. Habib Ibrahim El ADLY, Minister of Interior and other prominent figures also attended the ceremony. From the Japanese side, Mr. Norihiro OKUDA, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, Mr. Nobuhiro IKURO, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency Cairo office and others attended.

2. Borg El Arab Int’l Airport Modernization Project is aimed at increasing its capacity by constructing a new terminal and revamping taxi ways and other facilities, in response to the growing air travel needs in Alexandria area. Japan has financed 5.73 billion yen to this project through its yen-loan scheme.

3. In the inauguration ceremony, H.E. Hosni MUBARAK, President of Egypt, planted a memorial tree with the presence of Amb. OKUDA. Afterwards, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Mohamed SHAFIK, Ministry of Civil Aviation made a presentation on Borg El Arab Int’l Airport Modernization Project and led the supervised tour for newly constructed terminal building by the main attendees and other events.

4. Borg El Arab area is home to the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology(E-JUST), which is another signature project of Egypt-Japan cooperation, and was inaugurated earlier this year. E-JUST is expected to become the scientific research and education hub not only for Egypt but for the entire Arab world, Mid-east and Africa, as well as one of the important newly developing Science & Technology and industry center in Egypt.

5. In addition, starting this May, in response to the request from the Egyptian Airport Company(EAC), Narita International Airport Corporation(NAA) has provided comprehensive supports for the management, operation and maintenance of the airport as well as the training of the airport personnel conveying the Japanese spirit of hospitality. Japan is contributing to the development of Egypt both in terms of software and hardware through these projects and activities.

* For inquiries, contact the Embassy of Japan Naruaki HISADA, tel. 2528-5910 or Japan International Cooperation Agency Takuro TAKEUCHI tel. 2574-8243.