Egypt, Sudan inaugurate first common land route

Egypt and Sudan officially inaugurated their first joint major land route on Wednesday in the presence of senior officials from the two neighbouring African countries.
The Qostul-Ashkeet road will create new horizons in bilateral relations, especially in the economic fields, Abdulwahid Yusuf, Minister of Roads and Bridges of Sudan, said during the ceremony of the inauguration on Wednesday.
For his part, Egypt's Minister of Transport Hany Dahi said the road would contribute to a big leap in the domains of investment and trade between the two countries, indicating that trade volume will increase by 14 percent within the first year of the road's operation.
He pointed out that the land route will decrease transportation costs to USD 200 per ton instead of USD 1,200 per ton by air.