Alerts. Real-time analysis of events occurring at the intersection of economics, finance and global security concerns.

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), a prominent PLA contractor, has won a $1.24 billion, 66-km light-rail project in Cairo in partnership with China Railway Group.  Work is expected to commence by the end of Q3 and will represent AVIC’s second rail-related contract in Egypt, an oddity for a company that has largely stuck to its primary aerospace business in other markets.  The light rail contract will boost China’s economic footprint in Egypt, which has fallen off after a period of exponential growth between 2014 and 2016.  In April 2015, AVIC partnered with China Railway Construction Corporation to build an 80-km electrified line linking Cairo suburbs Bilbeis City and El-Salam City.