According to a statement by the Ministry of Industry and Transport, the hub will support faster trade flows and reduce shipping costs.
Officials encouraged exporters to use the Ro-Ro shipping line connecting Damietta to Trieste, Italy, delivering refrigerated produce to Europe in just 34 hours via an integrated rail network.
The announcement came during a high-level visit by Minister El-Wazir to the Gamasa Industrial Zone in Dakahlia, where he inaugurated a major agricultural export facility and new pharmaceutical production lines.
The visit underscores Egypt’s push to expand industrial capacity, deepen local manufacturing, and enhance export competitiveness.
During the visit, El-Wazir opened the Agro Green factory for agricultural exports, built on 11,000 square metres with EGP 300 million in capital.
The plant, which produces 30,000 tons annually of fresh, chilled, and packaged vegetables for export, operates with 100 percent local content and ships to markets including the UK, the Netherlands, and France. Its inauguration was attended by Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk.
“This is not just a factory opening, it’s a step forward in implementing Egypt’s national industrial strategy,” El-Wazir said.
He highlighted the state’s goal to raise the industry’s share of GDP from 14 percent to 20 percent by 2030.
The minister added that the strategy focuses on expanding industrial employment, boosting local production, and transitioning to a green economy.
He outlined seven pillars of the strategy, including reducing import dependency, reviving stalled factories, improving product quality, training technical labour, and embracing digital and green industries.
He said the Agro Green facility exemplifies these goals, creating 3,000 direct and indirect jobs and adding value to Egypt’s agricultural output.
El-Wazir also visited the Egyptian Cosmetics Company, which operates on 4,000 square metres with EGP 200 million in capital and an annual capacity of 650 tons. The factory exports 40 percent of its output and employs 1,850 people.
During the tour, the minister inaugurated three new pharmaceutical lines and inspected production of syrups, gels, and chocolate-based products.
In a meeting with Dakahlia investors, El-Wazir stressed the government’s commitment to supporting serious manufacturers through infrastructure upgrades, licensing reforms, and direct engagement.
He also announced plans to expand the Gamasa zone with two new industrial areas totalling over 230 feddans and to reclaim unused plots for reallocation to committed investors.
El-Wazir confirmed that stalled projects can benefit from a grace period and facilitation package valid until April 2026, and that all licensing procedures now fall under the Industrial Development Authority.
The government, he said, is focused on establishing large-scale factories to meet domestic demand and expand exports to the Middle East and Africa, with priority given to labour-intensive, energy-efficient sectors like garments and pharmaceuticals.
Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk praised the Agro Green facility as a symbol of Egypt’s integrated agricultural and export renaissance.
He noted that Egypt’s sweet potato exports now rank third after citrus and potatoes, and that total agricultural exports exceeded 7.5 million tons this year, up 650,000 tons from 2024, boosting the country’s trade balance and supporting rural livelihoods.
Moreover, El-Wazir responded to requests for land mergers, changes in activities, and export-related registration reforms. He emphasized that land use changes require three years of operation under the original license to prevent speculation and ensure land reaches committed producers.
He also directed feed additive producers to submit a memorandum to the Agriculture Ministry regarding export registration timelines and instructed officials to coordinate with the Finance Ministry to include eligible manufacturers in industrial financing initiatives.
The visit concluded with a call to establish an investors’ association for the Gamasa zone to manage and maintain infrastructure, in line with Egypt’s broader push to empower the private sector in industrial development.
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