Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly conducted an extensive inspection tour on Saturday of several industrial facilities in the Benha Investment Zone, as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to support local investment, enhance industrial production, and expand exports.
The visit reflects the state’s broader strategy to create a more attractive business environment, remove obstacles facing investors, and strengthen Egypt’s position as a regional industrial hub.
Accompanying the Prime Minister were Mohamed Farid, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade; Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry; Hossam Abdel Fattah, Governor of Qalyubeya; along with senior officials from the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones.
At the outset of the tour, Madbouly reaffirmed the government’s commitment to facilitating investment across key sectors, underscoring the central role of the private sector in driving economic growth.
He noted that the Benha Investment Zone was originally established to support economic and social development, attract both domestic and foreign investment, and create employment opportunities. The zone focuses primarily on food and agro-industrial activities, leveraging its proximity to agricultural production areas.
“Just a few years ago, this area was largely undeveloped. Today, it stands as a successful model of integrated investment zones that support small and medium-sized enterprises and contribute to price stability by reducing production costs,” Madbouly said.
He added that the government aims to replicate this model across other governorates, highlighting its importance in enhancing intra-regional trade and promoting industrial diversification.
During the tour, Farid said that investment zones represent a modern development model based on integrated planning, offering fully serviced industrial units that enable investors to operate without incurring infrastructure costs.
He explained that the system streamlines procedures by providing a one-stop shop for licensing and approvals through GAFI, thereby improving efficiency and competitiveness.
The Benha Investment Zone spans more than 46 feddans and includes 60 industrial projects, generating over 2,800 direct and indirect job opportunities. It comprises 147 industrial units ranging from 240 to 360 sqm, in addition to storage facilities, retail outlets, and essential services such as medical and firefighting units.
The zone began operations in September 2021 and currently hosts 51 active projects across 139 industrial units.
Madbouly’s tour also included a visit to an exhibition showcasing products from factories operating within the zone, many of which demonstrated strong export performance.
One food processing company exports 60% of its output, while another specialising in frozen vegetables produces 17,000 tonnes annually and exports to 28 countries.
A dairy producer with an annual capacity of 600 tonnes exports around 50% of its production and is planning to expand into new international markets. Meanwhile, another food processing company produces 3,000 tonnes annually, with exports accounting for up to 95% of output.
These figures highlight the growing role of such industrial zones in boosting Egypt’s export capacity and reducing reliance on imports.
The Prime Minister also inspected several specialised factories, including a dates processing and packaging facility, which he described as a “qualitative addition” to the industrial zone due to its contribution to exports and job creation.
The facility currently produces around 1,160 tonnes annually and employs approximately 200 workers, with plans to expand both production capacity and workforce.
Madbouly stressed that food processing remains a key pillar of Egypt’s industrial strategy, given its potential to generate employment and add value to agricultural products.
The tour further included a visit to a pharmaceutical and nutritional supplements factory, which produces between 60 million and 70 million units annually. The company exports 30% of its production and aims to increase this share to 50% by 2026–2027.
The facility employs around 500 workers and manufactures a wide range of products, including capsules, liquids, and fast-dissolving oral films.
Madbouly highlighted the importance of expanding pharmaceutical production to meet domestic demand while strengthening export capabilities, particularly in high-value industries.
Another key stop was a citrus packing station, which exports around 75% of its annual production—equivalent to approximately 40,000 tonnes—valued at about $20m.
The facility processes up to 250 tonnes per day and exports to multiple international markets, underscoring Egypt’s growing competitiveness in agricultural exports.
Throughout the visit, Madbouly reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting private sector growth by providing incentives, upgrading infrastructure, and simplifying regulatory procedures.
He emphasised that increasing exports, creating jobs, and ensuring the availability of goods in the domestic market remain top priorities.
“The state will continue to provide all necessary support to investors and work to remove any challenges they face, in order to boost production and achieve sustainable economic growth,” he said.
The success of the Benha Investment Zone underscores the effectiveness of Egypt’s strategy to develop integrated industrial clusters that combine production, logistics, and services.
With strong export performance, rising investor interest, and continued government backing, such zones are expected to play a pivotal role in driving Egypt’s economic development in the coming years.
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