Deputy Prime Minister Kamel Al-Wazir chaired a ministerial meeting that approved three new licences for cement factories, alongside two industrial projects in the Suez Canal Economic Zone worth $1.29bn. The decisions aim to boost production capacity, meet domestic demand, and prepare for regional reconstruction efforts. The projects are set to enter commercial production within one year.
Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir chaired the 37th meeting of the Ministerial Group for Industrial Development, attended by senior ministers and officials. The group approved three new licences to establish cement factories, each with a single production line, in addition to expansion projects at existing plants. This step seeks to satisfy local demand, ensure affordable cement supplies, and bolster Egypt's construction sector stability.
Al-Wazir stated that the licences align with the government's strategy to enhance industrial output, anticipating increased demand from regional reconstruction, including Gaza's rebuilding. The meeting also greenlit two projects from the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) totaling $1.29bn in investments. The first involves chemical manufacturing, such as pesticides, chlorine, and alkalis, with $1bn invested over 320,000 square metres. The second targets vehicle tyre production, at $291m across 380,000 square metres. Both will be forwarded to the Supreme Energy Council for electricity and natural gas allocations.
Officials examined a case of an industrial firm halted by a power outage, prompting urgent contact with the Ministry of Electricity for resolution. Al-Wazir instructed adding an Electricity Ministry representative to the unified factory inspection committee to streamline processes. The discussion addressed strawberry farmers' complaints about agricultural quarantine rules requiring IP-registered seedlings, leading to a technical committee's formation for balanced recommendations. Finally, measures to settle natural gas arrears for ceramic manufacturers were reviewed, covering debts, compliance, and supply sustainability.