Egyptian Prime Minister Inspects Industrial Projects in Dakahleya

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly conducted a field visit to Dakahleya to inspect several development projects, including factories operating in the Mit Ghamr Investment Zone. The visit aimed to address obstacles facing ongoing projects, accelerate their operations, and encourage further industrial investment. Madbouly was accompanied by several officials, including Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister Abdelaziz Konsowa and Industry Minister Khaled Hashem.

The Mit Ghamr Investment Zone, affiliated with the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), has reached full occupancy with 107 industrial units of different sizes. The zone has attracted investments exceeding EGP 500m and generated around 2,500 job opportunities. A further 160 projects are on the waiting list, according to a presentation delivered during the visit. The zone offers industrial units measuring 144, 288, and 576 square meters, providing flexible spaces for businesses operating in engineering, electronics, and metal industries.

During the visit, Madbouly toured an exhibition showcasing products made by companies operating in the zone, reviewing their manufacturing activities and production processes. The exhibits included a broad range of locally manufactured products, such as aluminium cookware, pharmacy supplies, LED bulbs, and personal care products. Madbouly stressed the importance of enabling local manufacturers to serve the domestic market while expanding exports, noting that greater reliance on locally manufactured products could reduce imports and ease demand for foreign currency.

One of the companies, ELC, plans to establish a new factory in Sadat City, in addition to its television manufacturing and assembly plant in the Mit Ghamr zone. The company produces conventional and smart television sets with an annual production capacity of 100,000 units. Company Chairperson Mohamed Mostafa El-Helwany said ELC was established in 2021 and began production in Mit Ghamr in 2022, with investments of EGP 100m and around 75 job opportunities.

The visit also included inspections of food exhibitions, housing projects under the national project to develop governorate capitals, the plasma donation centre in Mansoura, and the new liver transplant centre at Mansoura University. Madbouly said the tour aims to follow up on development projects across several sectors and assess challenges requiring coordination among ministries and state agencies to resolve.

The prime minister highlighted the role of local manufacturing in replacing imported goods and strengthening the competitiveness of national industry. He also emphasized the importance of investment zones as a successful model for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and providing sustainable employment opportunities for young people in governorates. The government is continuing to improve the investment climate and provide support for deepening local manufacturing.

The Mit Ghamr zone is one of several investment zones aimed at localising economic development and deepening domestic manufacturing through the establishment of integrated industrial clusters across governorates. The zone's success has prompted calls for expanding the investment-zone model to new cities and other governorates, highlighting its potential to attract investment and support industrial activity beyond major urban centres.

Key points

• The Mit Ghamr Investment Zone has reached full occupancy with investments exceeding EGP 500m and generating around 2,500 job opportunities.
• The zone offers industrial units of different sizes, providing flexible spaces for businesses operating in engineering, electronics, and metal industries.
• Madbouly emphasized the importance of local manufacturing in replacing imported goods and strengthening the competitiveness of national industry.