Latest news with #KamelAl-Wazir
Daily News Egypt
a day ago
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt reaffirms ban on industrial projects on farmland, in residential areas
In a continued effort to boost industrial development while preserving vital resources, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir held a meeting with investors in Beheira to address challenges facing the region's industrial zones and explore practical solutions. During the meeting, officials reviewed the implementation status of Beheira's three approved industrial zones, which span a total of 1,162.47 feddans. These include the Wadi El-Natrun Industrial Zone, covering 519.47 feddans; the Al-Tarrana Industrial Zone in Hosh Issa, covering 346 feddans; and the Nubaria Industrial Zone, covering 297 feddans. The discussions focused on land allocation, operational readiness, the availability of utilities, and the progress of ongoing infrastructure work in each zone. Attention was also given to the textile and ready-made garments industrial zone in Kafr El-Dawar. This complex, extending over more than 618,000 square meters, currently houses 138 factories operated by 103 investors. The Minister emphasized the importance of completing infrastructure and utility connections in the area to support production readiness. Al-Wazir directed officials from the Ministry of Industry, the Industrial Development Authority, and the Beheira Governorate to intensify planning efforts aimed at localizing industries based on the specific resources and advantages of each region. He noted that strategic localization should focus on sectors that deepen local manufacturing, create employment opportunities, and enhance the added value of national resources. The Minister underscored the urgency of accelerating infrastructure and utility development, while streamlining bureaucratic procedures to facilitate the rapid operation of factories. He also reaffirmed the Egyptian state's commitment to prohibiting any industrial activity on agricultural land or within residential areas, in accordance with directives from President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. These directives, he said, are crucial for preserving arable land and securing food supplies for future generations. Al-Wazir reiterated the government's commitment to genuine industrial development within properly designated and fully serviced zones, which offer a sustainable and regulated environment for growth. He encouraged serious investors to make use of the 1,800 industrial plots recently made available through Egypt's Digital Industrial Platform, stressing that suitable alternatives will always be offered within the planned zones. Calling on investors to prioritize the national interest, he described the preservation of agricultural land as a shared responsibility. During the meeting, several investors raised concerns about recurrent power outages and voltage fluctuations in the Wadi El-Natrun zone, which are disrupting factory operations. In response, Al-Wazir directed immediate coordination with the Ministry of Electricity and the relevant distribution companies to identify urgent and sustainable solutions. He also instructed the development of a clear technical plan to strengthen the area's electrical network and ensure stable power supply, thereby supporting uninterrupted industrial activity and preventing production delays.
Daily News Egypt
25-05-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Al-Wazir inaugurates Golden Avenue garment factory, accelerates industrial development in Minya
Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel Al-Wazir, toured key industrial sites in Minya, highlighting Egypt's ongoing push to localize manufacturing and expand infrastructure in Upper Egypt. Al-Wazir began by visiting the Giza Company for Upper Egypt Development, a textile and ready-made garments factory that serves as a flagship example of successful local investment. Spanning 46,000 square meters and employing 2,500 workers, the factory has achieved a 50% local content rate, which Al-Wazir hailed as a major milestone in Egypt's industrial development strategy. He then officially inaugurated the Golden Avenue factory, a $3.5m Egyptian-Vietnamese joint venture specializing in the production of padded jackets for export to Europe and the United States. The facility currently employs 350 workers, with plans to grow its workforce to 1,500 by the end of the year. Following the inaugurations, Al-Wazir inspected the Matahra Industrial Zone, which spans 8 million square meters and hosts 621 projects across multiple sectors. He also reviewed proposed utility works at a 306-feddan expansion site designated for new industrial development. As part of broader investment facilitation measures, the minister announced that 16 vacant plots in the Matahra zone will be made available via the Egypt Industrial Digital Platform on June 1, 2025. Additionally, a small industries complex—comprising 68 units for food, engineering, and textile production—recently concluded a leasing round that ran from 1 to 22 May 2025. Al-Wazir stressed the urgency of accelerating development in Matahra, citing its strategic location near major transportation routes and export hubs, including Safaga Port (250 km), Ain Sokhna Port (300 km), Minya Railway Station (40 km), and Assiut Airport (130 km). Plans are underway to add 1.2 million square meters to the zone, creating Upper Egypt's first textile-focused industrial area. To ensure accountability, Al-Wazir ordered the formation of a joint inspection committee to verify that allocated industrial plots are being developed on schedule. Lands left idle or misused will be reclaimed and reallocated to serious investors to curb speculation and accelerate productive use. The minister also inspected progress on the Western Upper Egypt Desert Road, a transformative infrastructure project stretching 1,226 kilometers. He visited the Dairut–Asyut segment, which is 72 kilometers long and now 75% complete. This section will ultimately feature six lanes—three for main traffic and three for service—across a 46-meter-wide corridor. Progress along the route is advancing steadily. The Cairo–Minya segment, covering 230 kilometers, was inaugurated in December 2021. The 60-kilometer Minya–Qusiya section opened in March 2023. The 57-kilometer Qusiya–Asyut section is now 75% complete. Work is progressing on the 113-kilometer stretch between Luxor and Sibaiya, while the 215-kilometer Aswan–Toshka section has reached 23% completion. The Sibaiya–Edfu segment (25 kilometers) and the Edfu–Aswan section (87.5 kilometers) are scheduled for completion by March 2025. The remaining segments, including the 336 kilometers from Asyut to Luxor and 103 kilometers from Toshka to Arqin, are currently in the planning phase. So far, 402.5 kilometers of the road have been completed, 385 kilometers are under development, and 439 kilometers are planned for future construction.
Daily News Egypt
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt launches regional forum to accelerate climate finance in Africa
Egypt launched the 'Africa Grows Green for Climate Finance' forum on Tuesday in the New Administrative Capital, bringing together senior government officials, financial institutions, and international organizations to advance climate finance across Africa amid growing calls for more equitable funding mechanisms. Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and organized by the Sustainability Foundation for Quality of Life, the high-level event convened ministers of industry, finance, environment, and transport, alongside representatives from the World Bank, Central Bank of Egypt, Financial Regulatory Authority, and the private sector. Kamel Al-Wazir, Minister of Industry and Transport, underscored the need to rethink development models in the face of climate change. He highlighted Egypt's green growth strategy—focused on low-emission transport and sustainable industry—pointing to public transport projects like electric trains and monorails, expected to cut CO₂ emissions by 9 million tonnes annually by 2030. He also emphasized finance as a key enabler of green industrial transformation, citing initiatives such as the voluntary carbon market and circular economy projects in Upper Egypt. Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad praised the forum for fostering collaboration among public and private stakeholders. She noted Egypt's transport sector had surpassed its 2022 emissions targets, as outlined in its Biennial Transparency Report. Fouad stressed the need for regulatory reforms and incentives to attract private capital into climate adaptation sectors like agriculture and waste management. Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk reaffirmed the private sector's central role in closing Egypt's climate finance gap. He announced plans for new fiscal incentives to support green investment and reiterated Egypt's ambition to become a regional clean energy hub. Representing Planning Minister Rania Al-Mashat, Mona Essam noted that while Africa holds $3 trillion in green investment opportunities by 2030, it receives just 3% of global climate finance—despite climate impacts costing the continent around 5% of GDP annually. Financial Regulatory Authority Chairman Mohamed Farid highlighted recent updates to capital market rules supporting green bonds and carbon credit trading. He said Egypt's regulated voluntary carbon market allows companies to monetize emissions reductions and finance adaptation projects previously deemed unbankable. Tarek El-Khouly, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, said the banking sector is undergoing a green shift, with institutions adopting climate risk assessments and issuing sustainability-linked bonds. The central bank has mandated that banks measure the carbon footprint of their portfolios and integrate sustainability governance practices. Ambassador Wael Aboulmagd, Assistant Foreign Minister for Climate and Sustainable Development, emphasized Egypt's leadership in African climate diplomacy, referencing its role in key initiatives under the Paris Agreement and its chairmanship of the African Group of Negotiators. Reem Abdel Meguid, Head of the Sustainability Foundation, said the forum aims to close the knowledge and access gap between project developers and financing institutions. It builds on Egypt's COP27 legacy and supports regional collaboration to scale green finance. The forum features three core sessions: developing policy frameworks for climate investment, mobilizing international funding for adaptation and mitigation, and enabling SMEs to access green finance. The final session, titled 'A Call to Action,' will push for deeper regional cooperation and co-investment in Africa's sustainable future.
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
Egypt's Deputy PM directs authorities to enforce European charging protocol for EVs
Egypt - Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel Al-Wazir, chaired the 24th meeting of the Ministerial Group for Industrial Development, attended by ministers responsible for military production, electricity, public enterprises, local development, housing, and petroleum. The meeting focused on key amendments to the National Program for the Development of the Automotive Industry. These amendments introduce expanded incentives designed to boost local value addition, increase production volumes, attract new investments, promote environmental sustainability, and support development in priority regions. The revised framework will be submitted to the Prime Minister and, subsequently, to President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi for approval. A major point of discussion was the adoption of a unified charging protocol for electric vehicles. Al-Wazir instructed the relevant authorities to issue clear directives requiring importers—both commercial agents and individuals—to adhere to the European charging standard. This move aims to ensure national compatibility, safety, and technical efficiency across Egypt's EV infrastructure. The meeting also reviewed a request by ElSewedy Electric to allocate 22.6 feddans of land in the Mansha'at Kamal area in Fayoum Governorate—near the Japanese Yazaki automotive wiring factory—to establish a manufacturing complex for various electrical wiring systems. The group approved the proposal, with Al-Wazir describing the project as 'promising' due to its proximity to the second line of Egypt's high-speed electric train network and integration with existing infrastructure and projects. Al-Wazir stressed the importance of ensuring that all projects seeking Golden Licenses first secure technical and industrial feasibility approvals. He advocated for expedited processing of strategic projects and highlighted the inclusion of the head of the Industrial Development Authority on the Investment Authority's board to enhance oversight and governance. These steps, he said, align with the government's broader vision to foster sustainable industrial development and ensure proper licensing in accordance with Cabinet directives. Golden Licenses will only be issued after thorough ministerial review. The meeting also addressed the need to enhance regulatory oversight of both locally produced and imported goods—from factories and ports to retail outlets. The goal is to ensure product quality, protect consumers, and strengthen the global reputation of Egyptian products. To that end, the ministers emphasized greater coordination between the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality, the Industrial Control Authority, and the General Organization for Export and Import Control to harmonize regulations with international standards. Additionally, the group discussed advancing Egypt's pump manufacturing industry through localization of technology, enforcing national specifications—particularly for fire pumps—and developing local testing laboratories. These efforts are expected to reduce production costs, create jobs, and enhance Egypt's industrial competitiveness on a regional and global scale. © 2024 Daily News Egypt. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Daily News Egypt
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily News Egypt
Al-Wazir directs authorities to enforce European charging protocol for EVs
Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel Al-Wazir, chaired the 24th meeting of the Ministerial Group for Industrial Development, attended by ministers responsible for military production, electricity, public enterprises, local development, housing, and petroleum. The meeting focused on key amendments to the National Program for the Development of the Automotive Industry. These amendments introduce expanded incentives designed to boost local value addition, increase production volumes, attract new investments, promote environmental sustainability, and support development in priority regions. The revised framework will be submitted to the Prime Minister and, subsequently, to President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi for approval. A major point of discussion was the adoption of a unified charging protocol for electric vehicles. Al-Wazir instructed the relevant authorities to issue clear directives requiring importers—both commercial agents and individuals—to adhere to the European charging standard. This move aims to ensure national compatibility, safety, and technical efficiency across Egypt's EV infrastructure. The meeting also reviewed a request by ElSewedy Electric to allocate 22.6 feddans of land in the Mansha'at Kamal area in Fayoum Governorate—near the Japanese Yazaki automotive wiring factory—to establish a manufacturing complex for various electrical wiring systems. The group approved the proposal, with Al-Wazir describing the project as 'promising' due to its proximity to the second line of Egypt's high-speed electric train network and integration with existing infrastructure and projects. Al-Wazir stressed the importance of ensuring that all projects seeking Golden Licenses first secure technical and industrial feasibility approvals. He advocated for expedited processing of strategic projects and highlighted the inclusion of the head of the Industrial Development Authority on the Investment Authority's board to enhance oversight and governance. These steps, he said, align with the government's broader vision to foster sustainable industrial development and ensure proper licensing in accordance with Cabinet directives. Golden Licenses will only be issued after thorough ministerial review. The meeting also addressed the need to enhance regulatory oversight of both locally produced and imported goods—from factories and ports to retail outlets. The goal is to ensure product quality, protect consumers, and strengthen the global reputation of Egyptian products. To that end, the ministers emphasized greater coordination between the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality, the Industrial Control Authority, and the General Organization for Export and Import Control to harmonize regulations with international standards. Additionally, the group discussed advancing Egypt's pump manufacturing industry through localization of technology, enforcing national specifications—particularly for fire pumps—and developing local testing laboratories. These efforts are expected to reduce production costs, create jobs, and enhance Egypt's industrial competitiveness on a regional and global scale.
