Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry, and Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, witnessed the signing of four cooperation protocols between the Industrial Modernisation Centre (IMC) and the Export Development Fund, Hassan Allam Group, EL Square, and the National Egyptian Railway Industries Company (NERIC).

The agreements aim to support exporters, develop local suppliers, promote digital transformation and smart manufacturing, and strengthen the competitiveness of Egyptian industry in both local and global markets.

The first protocol, signed between the IMC and the Export Development Fund, will implement the “Quality, Conformity and Environmental Compliance Certification Support Programme” for exporting companies across nine industrial sectors.

 These include food industries, engineering industries, chemicals, medical industries, ready-made garments, home textiles, spinning and weaving, leather products, and furniture.

The Minister also witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol with EL Square under the “Smart Manufacturing for Industrial Facilities” initiative. 

The agreement aims to provide digital transformation and smart manufacturing solutions, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.

In addition, the IMC signed a protocol with Hassan Allam Group to implement programmes for developing local suppliers serving the Group’s projects. The programmes will align suppliers with sustainability, green-building and carbon-emissions-reduction requirements.

Another protocol was signed with NERIC to develop seven local suppliers during the first phase, enabling them to provide components for railway and metro rolling-stock manufacturing in accordance with the international IRIS standard, ISO 22163:2023.

Hashem stated that the Industrial Modernisation Centre is one of the Ministry of Industry’s key technical and executive arms.

He noted that the Ministry is working to expand the Centre’s role as part of a comprehensive plan to modernise Egypt’s industrial ecosystem, including wider adoption of digital transformation and artificial intelligence in factories, as well as stronger links between scientific research outputs and industrial needs.

He added that these agreements reflect the state’s direction towards localising and deepening domestic manufacturing, increasing local content, and enhancing the global competitiveness of Egyptian products. These efforts form part of a strategy targeting industrial exports of USD 100 billion by 2030.

The Minister noted that the Ministry has identified seven priority industries: ready-made garments, textiles, food and pharmaceutical industries, automotive manufacturing, electrical and engineering equipment, electronics, as well as several strategic and enabling industries.

He further announced that the Ministry is preparing to launch new industrial investment funds next September to finance promising industrial projects through direct equity participation or debt swaps. The Ministry will also launch a platform for distressed factories to connect them with new investors and support their return to operation.

Hashem affirmed that the Ministry aims to attract leading global automotive manufacturers to produce in Egypt, leveraging incentives offered through the National Automotive Industry Development Programme. The initiative is expected to help increase annual vehicle production to 100,000 units by 2030.

He also revealed plans to implement the “Productive Villages” programme, which will create employment opportunities, develop local industries in villages, and integrate them into industrial supply chains. In parallel, the Ministry will continue its efforts to develop the Shaq El-Teeban area, one of Egypt’s most important specialised industrial zones for marble and granite.

For his part,  Minister Farid stressed that achieving a major leap in Egyptian exports depends on production capable of competing globally. He emphasised that investment in quality is no longer optional, but rather a necessity for expanding access to international markets.

He added that the government is working to reduce the burdens and costs associated with obtaining quality and international accreditation certificates by providing accredited local laboratories in Egypt. This is expected to reduce costs, shorten processing times, and enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian products.

Meanwhile, Hatem El-Nawawy, Head of the Executive Authority of the Export Development Fund, stated that the agreement represents an important step in supporting Egyptian companies in obtaining quality certifications and international accreditations, thereby strengthening the ability of Egyptian products to expand into global markets.