Turkey, Egypt agree on mutual RORO services

Roll-on/roll-off (RORO) services between the Mediterranean Turkish port of Mersin and the Egyptian city of Alexandria will begin in December, Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Ça?layan said yesterday.

The RORO services will officially begin between Dec. 5 and 7, said Ça?layan, who met Egyptian Foreign Trade and Industry Minister Mahmoud Abd al-Rahman Eissa in Istanbul yesterday.

RORO ships are vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo like cars, trucks, trailers and railroad cars that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels.

Ça?layan said the RORO services would significantly increase the economic and tourist relations between Turkey and Egypt. He also said a technical committee on a free trade agreement between the two countries would hold a three-day meeting beginning on Nov. 15 in Cairo.