Madbouly noted that his visit to the zone shows the state’s keenness in encouraging and attracting such projects to propel investments and support the national economy.

FanYang

The first project visited by Madbouly was the Egypt FanYang factory for textile printing and dyeing, which is part of the China-Egypt TEDA cooperation zone near Ain Sokhna.

The project aims to produce 30,000 tons of clothing fabrics, blankets and home furnishings annually with a value of $150 million, according to the factory’s owner.

The factory cost $60 million and spans an area of 120,000 square metres, he added.

The opening comes within the framework of advancing economic and trade cooperation between China and Egypt and aims to establish a domestic textile industrial zone in Egypt, the factory owner affirmed.

Jushi-Egypt

Also in the TEDA zone, Madbouly witnessed the inauguration of a new fibreglass production line from Jushi-Egypt, which is affiliated with the Chinese company Jushi.

Following the launch of the new production line, the factory ranks fourth worldwide for the production of fibreglass, according to Jushi CEO Woo Ben.

The factory exports its products through Egypt’s ports, Woo Ben added.

The new production line occupies a space of 120,841 square metres and includes an oven, a mill for quarried materials and storage space of the final product, he continued.

The new line cost $320 million to establish and aims to produce 200,000 tons of material annually, Woo Ben added.

He asserted that this project comes within the framework of strengthening economic cooperation and trade between Egypt and China.

Mercedes-Benz's logistics centre

Also among the projects inaugurated was a Mercedes-Benz logistics centre in the Sokhna Industrial Zone.

Head of the General Authority for SCZone Waleed Gamal El-Din underlined its importance, stressing that the project is attracting investments from major international companies to help achieve the goals of the country’s Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS): Egypt Vision 2030.

Gerd Bitterlich, the new CEO and president of Mercedes-Benz Egypt, said the logistics centre is worth EGP 35 million and spans an area of ​​20,000 square metres.

Bitterlich noted that the centre can handle 12,000 cars annually.

The centre includes a yard for storing cars, a place for spare parts and a maintenance workshop, he added.

Kadmar International for Shipping and Logistics

Furthemore, Madbouly oversaw the opening of the Kadmar International for Shipping and Logistics.

The project is a logistical platform for handling containers, goods and cars, as well as preparing goods, such as food products, for export, according to Vice Chairman of the Kadmar Group Medhat El-Qady.

The platform acts a middleman between sea ports, air ports, local markets, distribution zones and industrial zones, El-Qady added.

Among the benefits of the project will be the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, in part through the use of solar panels and reduction of wait times, he said.

The project was launched ahead of schedule due to the positive role played by the SCZone and thanks to the support of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, El-Qady said.

The project occupies an area of 109,000 square metres and had an investment cost of $35 million, he added.

Al-Ain Al-Sokhna GOEIC laboratories

Madbouly also witnessed the inauguration of the central laboratories of the General Organisation for Import and Export Control (GOEIC) at Ain Sokhna Port, which will test imports upon arrival.

The new laboratories will speed up the release of imports in line with international standards and ensure a prominent position for Egypt in foreign trade, Madbouly stressed.

Testing time will be reduced, avoiding the accumulation of products in Egyptian ports, Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir announced.  

This will also ensure low-quality goods do not enter the country, protecting the health and safety of Egyptian consumers, Samir continued.

The laboratories’ trial run in September was a success, announced Chairman of the GOEIC Essam Al-Naggar.

The different testing laboratories cover a wide array of products, including leather and shoes, children’s toys, oil filters, fuel filters and pumps.

Furthermore, there highly specialised laboratories including ones for acid and dry battery testing, spectral analysis and environmental testing, hydraulic stress, fractional motor testing and for rims and tire testing.

There is also a laboratory dedicated to testing household appliances such as heaters, refrigerators, washing machines, billet ovens and heaters.

The GOEIC is keen on implementing the highest international quality standards in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030, he concluded.

Agricultural Quarantine Testing Laboratories

Madbouly also witnessed the inauguration of an agricultural quarantine testing laboratory.

The new laboratory aims to speed up the process of customs release, reducing the time spent at ports to no more than 48 hours, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation El-Sayed El-Quseir announced.

He noted that the establishment of laboratories at the ports greatly reduces this time as products will no longer need to be transferred to Cairo for testing.

Seven different agricultural quarantine laboratories have been constructed specialised in testing for different issues, said Head of Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine Ahmed El-Attar.

This includes laboratories for examination of quarantine, fungal disease, insects and viral diseases, as well as a room for storing samples El-Attar continued.

Such measures will ensure that imports are free from pests, protecting Egypt’s agricultural wealth, he concluded.