(14/05/2012)  A trade delegation organized by MAFEX, the Spanish Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Equipment and Services for the Railway Industry, in collaboration with the Institute for Foreign Trade, was developed in Egypt and Turkey with the aim of strengthening Spanish rail exports in two emerging markets. The visit came to an end on May 11.

In Egypt the Spanish railway industry can collaborate on the development process of the country’s transport network. Among its plans is the Egyptian National Railways Restructuring Project carried out by the national railway company, which includes initiatives to modernise signalling systems in order to improve safety on lines like Bani Suef-Asiut.

In addition to this, the country is contemplating a possible high-speed line to link tourist areas and the construction of a tunnel below the Sinai.

Companies such as Corporación Albatros, Alte Transportation, Amurrio Ferrocarril y Equipos, Arcelormittal España, Colway Ferroviaria, Fainsa-Fabricación Asientos Vehículos Industriales, Ikusi-Ángel Iglesias, Indra Sistemas, Jez Sistemas Ferroviarios, Manusa Door Systems, Revenga Ingenieros and Teknorail Systems are present in the Egyptian market.

As far as Turkey is concerned, the Spanish railway industry companies have recently played a bigger role in the Turkish market with projects such as the country’s first high-speed train, which links Ankara and Istanbul, and the Antalya and Istanbul metro systems.