Abu Dhabi Ports + Qatar’s Mwani have their eyes on our ports: The government is in early-stage negotiations with Abu Dhabi Ports and Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani) to manage and operate ports in Egypt, Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir told reporters (watch, runtime: 1:44) yesterday. The Gulf logistics companies are interested in acquiring contracts to run the Ain Sokhna and Safaga ports, he said.

Gulf companies could soon be in charge of many of Egypt’s Red Sea terminals: ADP has already been hired to build and run a terminal at the port of Sokhna and is bidding to build a new terminal at Safaga port, while local media has reported that the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is in talks with the Madbouly government to develop and manage the port of Safaga under a 25-year contract. DP World has been strengthening its position at Ain Sokhna port, completing a major expansion at the port late last year and recently signing an agreement to build a new logistics zone.

MEANWHILE- An Egyptian-Dutch JV will build and manage a grain logistics hub at Alexandria port, under an MoU signed yesterday between the two companies and Alexandria Port Authority, the Transport Ministry said. Egyptian-Dutch Shipping Company (EDSCO) is a joint venture between a Dutch firm named Vitra and Egypt’s El Fateh, according to the statement. We weren’t able to find an online presence for either firm or their joint venture.

Our ports are not up for sale: Amid a backlash from some opposition MPs over government privatization plans, Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir reiterated that the government is not selling ports, but is rather entering partnerships with both local and foreign private-sector players to manage and operate them.