Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, stated that Egypt aims to raise the industrial sector's contribution to GDP to 20% by 2030, expand green industries' share to 5%, and double industrial jobs to seven million. These goals align with the urgent industrial development plan launched by the President in August 2024. Awad spoke during the general debate at the 21st UNIDO General Conference in Riyadh.
In a speech during the general debate at the 21st session of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) General Conference in Riyadh from 23 to 27 November, under the theme 'The Power of Investment and Partnerships to Accelerate Sustainable Development,' Awad highlighted accelerated growth in Egypt's key manufacturing sectors, including textiles, food industries, cement, petrochemicals, steel, and automotive assembly. The plan aims to increase the industrial share of GDP from 14% to 20% and boost employment from 3.7 million to 7 million by the decade's end.
Awad pointed to global challenges facing developing countries, such as international and regional conflicts disrupting supply chains and raising prices, financing difficulties amid rising external debt, protectionist policies limiting exports, technological gaps, and climate change impacts. She affirmed Egypt's alignment with statements from the Group of 77 and China, the African Group, and the Arab Group, praising UNIDO's role in supporting industrial progress in developing nations.
The Egypt-UNIDO partnership has grown to $61 million, with 21 projects underway and more in preparation under the 2021 Country Partnership Programme, supporting Egypt Vision 2030. The national industrial plan rests on seven pillars: deepening local manufacturing, expanding exports, revitalizing idle factories, improving product quality, increasing production employment, enhancing workforce training, and advancing digital and green industries.
Awad expressed Egypt's interest in bolstering UNIDO collaboration on areas like mitigating climate-related trade barriers such as carbon border taxes, boosting competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises, integrating them into global supply chains, accessing concessional finance, adopting artificial intelligence in manufacturing, green hydrogen, circular economy practices, plastic waste management, and vocational training. She welcomed UNIDO's 2026-2029 Medium-Term Programme Framework and confirmed Egypt's approval of the 2026-2027 budget.
Awad urged greater focus on Africa's industrial development, support for the Fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa, and backing for women empowerment projects in industry, including designating 21 April as the International Day for Women in Industry. She expressed pride in the re-election of the Central Auditing Organization as UNIDO's external auditor. She concluded by calling for support to rebuild Gaza's industrial infrastructure, referencing the Arab-Islamic plan for early recovery endorsed by the Arab Summit.