Egypt's Ministry of Industry has launched Industrial Strategy 2030, a comprehensive plan aimed at establishing a more competitive industrial base integrated into global supply chains. The strategy focuses on promoting industrial localization, deepening domestic manufacturing, and increasing local value added. Industry Minister Khaled Hashem presented the strategy's main pillars at a ceremony hosted by the Egyptian-British Business Association (EBBA) to mark the 30th anniversary of the Egyptian-British partnership.
The strategy targets five main industrial groups, including industries integrated into global supply chains, such as automotive and ready-made garments, and strategic industries like iron and steel, aluminum, chemicals, and fertilizers. Other focus areas include supporting and feeder industries, enabling industries, and circular economy and recycling industries. Hashem emphasized the ministry's commitment to establishing an integrated support framework for investors and manufacturers, including provision of industrial land, streamlined licensing procedures, financing facilities, and technical assistance.
To strengthen integration across production chains and enhance sector efficiency, the ministry is working to link small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with major industrial companies. Technology is another key pillar of the strategy, with efforts to align scientific research with factory needs and channel research outcomes into developing industrial products and processes. Hashem stressed the importance of balancing international technology transfer with domestic technological capability development to meet local market needs.
The minister highlighted the importance of developing industries based on locally available resources, maximizing the use of Egypt's mineral wealth to increase value added, and reducing import dependence. Particular focus is on developing feeder industries, including refractory materials, alloys, and castings used in iron and steel production, as well as industries based on phosphate rock. Egypt also seeks to deepen industrial integration with African countries and explore opportunities for Egyptian industrial projects across the continent.
Addressing workforce development, Hashem described human capital as a key ministry priority, revealing plans to introduce a vocational education program aimed at improving the quality of technical and vocational education graduates. The program will cover basic and specialized skills, training in modern technologies, and expanded practical instruction inside factories. It will also seek accreditation from reputable international educational institutions and establish links between graduates and local and international companies.
The ministry is also implementing measures to support innovative industrial ventures, help them move toward large-scale production, and attract European small and medium-sized enterprises facing economic challenges. Egypt aims to encourage these enterprises to establish industrial partnerships with Egyptian private-sector companies, facilitating technology and expertise transfer. On investment facilitation, Hashem highlighted measures to ease access to industrial land, including a lease-to-own system, and simplifying industrial licensing procedures.
The ministry is also focused on rural industrial development through the “Productive Village” initiative, which seeks to establish industrial activities in rural communities based on competitive advantages. The initiative aims to generate employment, particularly for women, reduce post-harvest losses, and curb migration by creating local economic and production opportunities. Hashem emphasized the importance of maintaining regular communication with the industrial community to identify and address challenges facing industrial investments.
Key points
- Egypt's Industrial Strategy 2030 targets five main industrial groups to enhance local manufacturing and global supply chains.
- The strategy focuses on promoting industrial localization, deepening domestic manufacturing, and increasing local value added.
- Egypt aims to attract European small and medium-sized enterprises to establish industrial partnerships with local private-sector companies.
