Proposed sites for establishing free industrial zones in 11 locations in new cities targeted for development.
Attracting large FDI and the main goal of these zones being export and deepening the national industry are the most prominent criteria for establishing public free zones.
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, held a meeting today regarding the establishment of new public free zones in new cities, in the presence of Dr. Assem El-Gazzar, Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, Mr. Hossam Heiba, GAFI CEO, Dr. Walid Abbas, Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Deputy and Minister’s Office Supervisor, Mr. Yasser Abbas, GAFI CEO Deputy, and Eng. Issam Al-Behairi, Head of the Free Zones Sector at GAFI.
At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly said that within the framework of Egypt’s support for investment and its keenness to attract new investments, especially in the industrial sector, today's meeting comes to provide lands for Public Free Zones that contribute to attracting industrial investments to enhance production for export. In light of the aforementioned, he stressed that the primary goal is to promptly provide ready industrial lands, especially for industrial projects that export their products abroad.
The Prime Minister indicated that he had previously requested the identification of locations in the new cities targeted for rapid development to establish Public Free Zones, with surface areas of about 150 feddans for each zone in new cities, such as: New Obour, New October, New Alamein, and some cities of Upper Egypt, and others, provided that there shall be a clear framework of partnership between the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) and GAFI, whether in terms of commitments or division of revenues.
Dr. Madbouly stressed that there are specific criteria for establishing Public Free Zones, the first of which is attracting FDI, the volume of investment be large, and the main goal of such zones must be exporting and deepening the national industry.
During the meeting, the Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities presented the 11 sites that are proposed for establishing industrial free zones, referring to the planning and construction requirements and the status of the provided utilities for each site. The sites included: (i) a plot of land with a surface area of 140 feddans east of the city of 10th of Ramadan city; (ii) a plot of land with a surface area of 115 feddans located at the southern area of New Alamein City; (iii) a plot of land with a surface area of 115 feddans in the Developers Zone No. (11) at Sadat City industrial zone; (iv) a plot of land with a surface area of 150 feddans at the Technology Valley zone in New Burj Al Arab City; (v) a plot of land with a surface area of 150 feddans at the industrial zone west of New October City; (vi) a plot of land with a surface area of 150 feddans at the industrial zone in New Obour City; (vii) a plot of land with a surface area of 150 feddans at the new industrial zone in the southern expansions of New Sohag City; (viii) a plot of land with a surface area of 132 feddans at the Ninth Industrial District in New Beni Suef City; (ix) a plot of land with a surface area of 150 feddans at the Second Industrial Zone along New Aswan City; (x) a plot of land with a surface area of 149 feddans at New Thebes Industrial Zone; and (xi) a plot of land with a surface area of 150 feddans at the industrial zone of Capital Gardens City.
Dr. Assem El-Gazzar stated that we are ready to begin implementing this project, according to the partnership system that is agreed upon with GAFI.
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly directed GAFI to quickly inspect these proposed lands and work to attract major foreign companies and investments with large capital, provided that this is done in accordance with standards that achieve our goals.
In a related context, Mr. Hossam Heaiba explained the importance of free zones in attracting foreign investments in order to enhance exports, and stressed that inspection of the lands will begin immediately since there are some applications submitted to obtain the lands. He presented the activities targeted by these applications, including industry of electrical braids, plastics, clothing and textiles, electric vehicles, digital service activities, boards, petroleum services, prosthetic devices, lifting pumps and spare parts storage, and others.
GAFI CEO confirmed that there would be an agreement to sign a cooperation protocol between GAFI and the New Urban Communities Authority in this regard.
