Egypt places industrial development at the top of its priorities by launching two industrial cities
Egypt places industrial development at the top of its priorities by launching two industrial cities
In the context of seeking to redraw the map of industrial development in Egypt, and the state’s keenness to develop Upper Egypt and enhance job opportunities for its youth, two integrated textile cities were launched in both the Wadi Al-Sarayya area in Minya Governorate, and the industrial zone in northern Fayoum, with total investments amounting to 27 billion pounds.
This project comes within a comprehensive strategy to advance the textile and ready-made clothing industry. To confirm the state’s orientation towards promoting balanced development, localizing industry, achieving optimal exploitation of resources and infrastructure that have been completed since 2014, and enhancing the role of the governorates in advancing national production through specific projects that utilize the competitive advantages they possess and pave the way for radical developmental transformations in their economic and social fabric.
These two projects reflect a qualitative shift in the way development is managed, as mega projects are no longer limited to major cities, but rather have become an actual tool for providing job opportunities in areas that were once described as “marginalized.” In light of a strong partnership with the private sector through the “Industrial Developer” system, Egypt is moving towards building more sustainable production systems that are consistent with international quality and competitiveness standards.
In this context,Earth Guards sheds light in this article on the details of this ambitious development project, as a model for the integration of social, economic and environmental dimensions into development policies, and a direct response to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will review the components of the project, its development dimensions, and the extent of its expected impact on the future of industry in Upper Egypt; So keep reading.
Announcing the launch of the two cities
Lieutenant General Kamel Al-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, announced during an extensive press conference earlier last month the launch of two integrated textile cities in Minya and Fayoum.
The Minister stressed that the textile and ready-made clothing sector represents one of the promising sectors in Egypt, which possesses great competitive advantages that contribute to strengthening the economy and increasing job opportunities for young people. He also reviewed the state’s efforts in developing infrastructure and promoting sustainable development since the launch of “Egypt Vision 2030”, including huge projects to improve the logistical network of roads and ports; Which contributes to achieving industrial integration and increasing exports, especially in the ready-made clothing sector.
Why Minya and Fayoum?
The governorates of Minya and Fayoum were chosen as locations for the two industrial cities due to their unique geographical capabilities, as Minya is located within close proximity to seaports and major logistical hubs, such as the Upper Egypt Free Road, which facilitates access to major export markets. At the same time, Fayoum is distinguished by its proximity to the capital, Cairo, and its connection to the main road network, including the regional ring road and the dry port in October.
This logistical integration falls within the state’s plan to improve the infrastructure supporting industry and achieve integration between the productive and service sectors, which contributes to reducing costs and increasing companies’ ability to compete internationally, and reflects the trend towards a sustainable infrastructure that supports industrial growth goals and serves the Egyptian economy, in addition to its support for Goal (9) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.”
The two cities will be built on an area of up to 11 million square meters, and will include an integrated factory for every stage of the textile industry, including the facilities necessary for manufacturing ready-made clothing and furnishings. The project is expected to contribute to significantly increasing exports of the textile sector, as total exports are expected to rise from $2.8 billion to $11.5 billion annually by 2030; Which supports the path of industrial development in Egypt.
What distinguishes the industrial cities of Minya and Fayoum is not only their investment size or geographical location, but rather the fact that they are designed to be integrated production centers. They represent an integrated system that includes spinning, weaving, dyeing, ready-made clothing, feeding industries, and furnishings, with a specialized infrastructure that supports operational integration.
Development begins with humans
One of the striking aspects of the project is the interest in citizens’ rights, as each city includes an integrated service area that includes industrial schools, training centers, health facilities, and service facilities for investors and workers. Which confirms that the project does not aim only at production, but rather aims at building an integrated industrial society.
The two cities are expected to provide approximately 400,000 direct and indirect job opportunities. This means an actual improvement in the income level of about one million citizens in Upper Egypt, and Goal (8) supports decent work and economic growth, enhances social justice, and embodies the link between economic development and social justice within an integrated development vision.
Partnerships to support industrial development
What reflects the state’s awareness of the importance of partnership with the private sector in achieving development is the adoption of the “industrial developer” model in implementing the two cities. The developer is responsible for designing the cities, building their infrastructure, operating and marketing them, which ensures speed in implementation and efficiency in operation, and relieves the state of the burden of full financing.
This model represents a strategic partnership that contributes to achieving “Egypt Vision 2030” by enabling the private sector to lead industrial growth and increase its contributions to the domestic product, which contributes to establishing a more transparent and attractive investment climate, advances the wheel of industrial development in Egypt at a faster pace, and involves the private sector in shaping its future features.
Supporting the green transition
Although the economic dimension is strongly present in the project, the general design of the two cities takes into account environmental considerations, by adopting modern technologies to reuse water, applying production systems that reduce waste, and partially relying on clean energy sources, making these cities a model of an industry that respects the environment and does not consume its resources unjustly.
This balance between industrial development and environmental preservation confirms that industrial transformation in Egypt is no longer just an expansion in production, but rather a trend towards sustainable models that combine environmental efficiency and economic feasibility, which strengthens Egypt’s practical commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and not just promoting them theoretically.
He believesEarth Guardsthat this project represents a fundamental step in the path of regional industrial development that includes all governorates of Egypt, and confirms that development is no longer limited to the capital or the major coastal cities, but rather has become comprehensive for all parts of the country.
