In line with the directives of the political leadership to support the national industrial sector and remove all obstacles facing investors, Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem and Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber held an extensive and open meeting with investors in the Shaq El-Thoban Industrial Zone to discuss all the challenges and problems they face. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Sayed Abaza, Head of the Marble and Granite Division, and several leaders from the Ministry of Industry.
At the outset of the meeting, Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem emphasized the state's commitment to developing the Shaq El-Thoban area, considering it one of Egypt's most important industrial hubs. He stressed the need for concerted efforts to develop comprehensive strategic plans for the area's development, aiming to maximize its competitiveness and achieve unprecedented export levels.
The Minister indicated that the Ministry's efforts are currently focused on supporting manufacturers to increase their production capacities, both to meet the needs of the local market and to compete strongly in global markets. He also emphasized the importance of providing a stable working environment and avoiding any decisions or measures that could harm the interests of serious investors. He noted that the Ministry of Industry is committed to providing all forms of support and assistance to ensure the continued operation of production and the development of various industrial zones in Egypt.
In 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 industrial zone, similar to the center affiliated with the Cairo Governorate. He also directed the establishment of a vocational training school specializing in marble and granite, to graduate skilled technical workers to meet the needs of factories.
The Minister of Industry announced a deadline for investors whose status is not yet formalized to expedite the regularization process and join the official system. He emphasized the importance of establishing the principle of fairness and equal opportunity for all investors, stating that compliant investors who have completed the regularization procedures cannot be treated the same as those who have not. He warned that if some continue to neglect their responsibilities and fail to respond within the specified timeframe, the state will be compelled to take all necessary legal measures against them to ensure the preservation of state revenues and protect the interests of serious manufacturers.
For his part, Dr. Ibrahim Saber, Governor of Cairo, affirmed that the state has provided numerous facilitations for investors in the Shaq El-Thoban area to encourage them to complete the regularization process. These include granting investors who pay the full regularization fee a 25% discount and a complete exemption from any outstanding fines. This decision applies to investors who applied for regularization under the old system but have not yet paid, as well as those who submitted regularization applications through the new electronic system.
The Governor of Cairo added that the newly opened service center in the area has streamlined procedures and saved time, as investors now interact with only one entity and access a single service window. This separation of service providers from service recipients enhances efficiency and transparency, thus safeguarding the rights of both citizens and the state. He noted that all revenues collected from the legalization process are allocated to developing infrastructure, improving the area's efficiency, and paving its roads. He explained that the implementation and development of infrastructure in the area requires an estimated cost of 1.4 billion Egyptian pounds, as part of a comprehensive plan to improve infrastructure and provide an integrated business environment that supports investors and enhances the competitiveness of industry.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Minister of Industry and the Governor of Cairo handed over 44 contracts to investors in the Shaq El-Thoban area after their legal status was regularized. This is a significant step towards formalizing the status of investors and strengthening the legal stability of industrial activities within the area, enabling investors to expand their operations and increase production and export rates.
Source: Media Department - Cairo Governorate