An expanded meeting between the Minister of Industry and investors in the Shaq al-Tha’ban area to discuss export development

Specialized industrial zones represent a fundamental pillar in supporting the national economy and enhancing the competitiveness of local industries, which aims to develop exports, especially in sectors in which Egypt has strong comparative advantages, such as the marble and granite industry.

Shaq Al-Tha’ban area stands out as one of the most importantindustrial clustersin this field, as it contributes a pivotal role in supporting industrial production and developing Egyptian exports.

This pivotal role supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the economic axis and the objectives: (Goal 8): related to achieving decent work and economic growth by enhancing industrial production and creating job opportunities, (Goal 9): related to supporting industry, innovation, and infrastructure through developing industrial zones and increasing competitiveness, (Goal 17): concerned with concluding partnerships to achieve the goals by enhancing cooperation between the state and investors.

Therefore, the state’s efforts continue to develop these areas and provide a more stable and attractive investment environment for investors, by addressing existing challenges and facilitating legalization procedures, in addition to supporting the infrastructure and services necessary to enhance the sustainability of industrial activity and export development.

Supporting national industries and overcoming obstacles

In this context and in line with efforts to develop the national industry and overcome all obstacles facing investors, Engineer Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry, and Dr. Ibrahim Saber, Governor of Cairo, held an expanded and open meeting with investors in the Shaq Al-Tha’ban Industrial Zone, to identify the challenges and problems facing investors.

At the beginning of the meeting, Engineer Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry, stressed the state’s interest in developing the Shaq al-Tha’ban area as one of the most important Egyptian industrial castles, pointing out the need for concerted efforts to develop integrated strategic plans to develop the region, with the aim of maximizing its competitive capabilities and developing exports to reach unprecedented rates.

Meeting the needs of the local and global market

The Minister indicated that the Ministry’s efforts are currently focused on supporting manufacturers to increase their production capacities, whether to meet the needs of the local market or to compete strongly in global markets, as well as providing a stable work environment, and avoiding taking any decisions or actions that would harm the interests of serious investors, pointing out that the Ministry of Industry is keen to provide support and assistance to ensure the continued rotation of the wheel of production and the development of the various industrial zones in Egypt.

In an immediate response to investors’ demands, the Minister of Industry directed the establishment of an integrated service center affiliated with the Ministry of Industry within the region, similar to the center affiliated with Cairo Governorate, as well as the inauguration of a vocational training school specialized in the fields of marble and granite, to graduate skilled technical workers who meet the needs of factories, given that developing qualitative education in all sectors contributes to achieving (Goal 3) of the comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to achieving quality education.

Many facilitations for investors and legalization of conditions

The Minister of Industry announced the setting of a time limit for investors whose statuses are not regulated to quickly reconcile their statuses and join the official system, stressing the importance of establishing the principle of justice and equal opportunities among all investors, as a committed investor who has completed the legalization procedures cannot be equated with an uncompliant one, directing a call to investors in the region to quickly apply to legalize their statuses to ensure the preservation of state entitlements and raise the efficiency of the region.

For his part, Dr. Ibrahim Saber, Governor of Cairo, confirmed that the state provided a package of facilitations to investors in the Shaq Al-Tha’ban area to encourage them to legalize their situations, including granting a 25% discount to investors who pay the full legalization amount, while exempting them from the prescribed fines, provided that the decision applies to applicants according to the old system as well as legalization requests through the new electronic system.

Facilitating procedures and enhancing legal stability

The Governor of Cairo added that the service center in the region helped simplify procedures and save time through one window, while separating the service provider from the requester to ensure efficiency and transparency. He pointed out that all amounts collected from the legalization work are allocated to developing facilities and raising the efficiency of the region, at a cost estimated at about 1.4 billion pounds, within the framework of a comprehensive plan to support the work environment and enhance the competitiveness of the industry.

In the same context, the Minister of Industry and the Governor of Cairo handed over 44 contracts to investors after legalizing their status, in a step aimed at strengthening the legal stability of industrial activities within the region, allowing investors to expand their businesses and increase production and export rates.

For its part,The Earth Guards Foundation highlights such meetings and discussions because they represent a living example of the combined efforts of the state and investors towards strengthening the national industry and raising its competitive capabilities in a way that supports the development of exports. The new measures, from service and vocational training centers to financial facilitation and legalization of conditions, have contributed to building an integrated and sustainable industrial environment that supports local production and the development of global exports in line with Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth.

The orderly allocation of collected amounts and the continuous development of infrastructure also reflects the state’s keenness on legal stability and transparency, which establishes a unique model in the management of industrial zones, achieves justice among all investors, supports sustainable economic development, and enhances the competitiveness of Egyptian industry at the local and global levels.