Egypt's Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem held a high-level meeting to discuss boosting marble and granite exports and tackling challenges for quarry operators. He affirmed the government's strong commitment, calling the sector a priority industry with $1bn annual export potential. Participants included representatives from the Federation of Egyptian Industries, government entities, investors, and manufacturers.
Khaled Hashem, Egypt's Minister of Industry, convened a high-level meeting with representatives from the Federation of Egyptian Industries, the National Service Projects Organization, the Egyptian Company for Mining and Quarry Management, the Industrial Development Authority, as well as investors and manufacturers in the sector.
Discussions centered on maximizing Egypt's abundant raw materials, expanding exploration activities, and upgrading regulatory frameworks to improve governance and operational discipline. Officials reviewed strategies to enhance the global competitiveness of Egyptian marble and granite by aligning production with export market demands.
The meeting highlighted the Egyptian Company for Mining's efforts to streamline operations for quarry owners, alongside stricter regulations for transparency. Key initiatives include installing weighing systems at quarry exits to prevent manipulation and track volumes accurately, with 18 new weighbridges underway.
Hashem noted direct engagement with manufacturers in the Shaq El-Thoaban industrial zone and steps to legalize unlicensed operations in coordination with Cairo Governorate through the Industrial Development Authority. The ministry plans an advisory committee to provide technical and strategic support, aiming to increase operational quarries by the end of 2026.