During the meeting, the Prime Minister underscored the Suez Canal Economic Zone's strategic logistical importance as a gateway between East and West, offering significant opportunities for investors due to its location and integrated infrastructure. He highlighted the state's commitment to developing this infrastructure to international standards.
Walid Gamal El-Din detailed the Economic Zone's port
development plan, which involves infrastructure upgrades, berth expansion,
capacity increases, and enhanced logistical services to boost regional and
international competitiveness. He also noted efforts to provide investor
facilities and remove administrative hurdles.
Cabinet Spokesperson Counselor Mohamed El-Homsany reported
that the meeting covered the Authority's efforts to attract investments in
targeted industrial sectors, the outcomes of promotional activities (including
investment contracts), and the status of projects in Sokhna and other
industrial areas.
The Authority Chairman presented the financial standing and
revenue analysis, along with the results of promotional efforts from fiscal
year 2022/2023 to March 2025. He stated that total signed contracts reached
$8.301 billion for 272 projects, comprising 262 industrial, service, and
logistics ventures expected to create 40,209 jobs, and 10 seaport projects.
He also mentioned the establishment of 387 companies within
the zone, attracting diverse investments from Asian, European, and Middle
Eastern nations.
Addressing the building and operating license process, the
Economic Zone Chairman noted the commencement of this service in the latter
half of 2022, with 77 operating and 137 building licenses issued by March 31,
2025.
He reviewed the progress of investment projects in Sokhna, a
major industrial hub with Egypt's largest Red Sea port, currently being
upgraded into a key logistics center. Sokhna encompasses industrial,
commercial, and service activities with 13 industrial developers, aiming to
attract investments in sectors like green fuel, pharmaceuticals, medical
devices, semiconductors, IT, home appliances, electronics, engineering
equipment, automotive components, green heavy industries, logistics, and
training. He affirmed the Authority's success in attracting global companies in
these fields and outlined the construction progress of new Sokhna projects.
Furthermore, he discussed the Qantara West projects, where
15 ventures are underway since July 2023 with a $500 million investment,
expected to generate 21,500 jobs. He also noted the construction advancements
by several foreign companies in this area.
In the same context, investments in the Ismailia East
Industrial Zone (Technology Valley) were reviewed. This zone aims to establish
an urban community focused on investment, training, and research in high-tech
industries, targeting projects in technology, semiconductors, electronics,
engineering equipment, photovoltaic solar cells, vocational training centers,
and mining. He highlighted the Authority's success in attracting $47 million in
new investments for silica mining and modern building materials, creating 900
job opportunities.
Investments in the East Port Said Industrial Zone were also
presented, which seeks to offer competitive investment opportunities in diverse
industries such as automobiles, electric batteries, engineering tools, modern
building materials, and logistics. The attraction of projects in railway
components and green fuel was confirmed.
Gamal El-Din addressed several ongoing projects within the
Economic Zone aimed at localizing industry and fostering industrial
integration.
Finally, he discussed the digital transformation initiative, emphasizing the Economic Zone's goal to become a global industrial and investment platform leveraging advanced methods and infrastructure. He detailed the collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Agility to automate investor services for simplification, reduced processing times, enhanced transparency and governance, and improved business performance through a comprehensive digital transformation strategy, outlining the operational model for process integration and digital transformation.