This came in a meeting on Wednesday attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and a host of concerned ministers to follow up on implementing the National Industry Strategy, 

The participants discussed the main challenges and obstacles that have long negatively impacted Egyptian industry and ways to address and resolve them.

The National Industry Strategy, adopted in 2023, aims to advance the Egyptian industry, optimize the use of all available industrial capabilities in Egypt, and unleash the potential of both the local and foreign private sectors.

It targets transforming Egypt into a developed regional and international industrial hub, increasing the volume and value of commodity exports, and enhancing the national economy to raise living standards.

According to the Egyptian presidency, El-Sisi emphasized in the meeting that the industrial sector is a top priority, noting that though international and regional changes pose significant challenges, they also provide opportunities to build a solid industrial base in Egypt.

He instructed the government and the ministerial group for industrial development to continue their intensive efforts to localize promising industries in Egypt, transfer technology, and involve the private sector to enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian industry in local and foreign markets.

In addition, El-Sisi stressed the importance of training and improving the skills of Egyptian workers, as well as updating the Egyptian industrial investment map to attract more industrial investments to various sectors.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir, Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Salah El-Din, Minister of Local Development Manal Awad, Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouck, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Public Business Sector Mohamed Shimi, and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan Elkhatib.

According to surveys of several industrial areas, approximately 13,000 factories have completely halted production, excluding factories struggling due to high water and electricity costs.

Recently, the government announced it was focusing on reopening closed and struggling factories and establishing new ones to develop industry in Egypt and support the national economy.

Similarly, the General Authority for Industrial Development has been given directives to quickly take the necessary steps to issue a legislative amendment to legalize the status of factories established on agricultural land that are already operational and have previously been granted operating licenses.

Prime Minister Madbouly said in previous statements in May that the country's support for localizing industries is part of its efforts to meet domestic demands, reduce the import bill, and increase exports to more than $146 billion by 2030.

In 2023, Egypt’s non-oil exports reached $35.631 billion, while imports amounted to nearly $66 billion.