Dr. Sayed Ismail, Deputy Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, recently met with Captain Ahmed Gamal Metwally, Vice President of the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone (Southern Region), to explore opportunities for collaboration. The focus of the meeting was on the needs of the Ministry of Housing’s utilities sector, particularly in sourcing ductile iron (DI) pipes for water and sewage projects.
The meeting was attended by officials from various departments, including the Ministry’s Project Management Unit (PMU), the National Authority for Potable Water and Sewage, the Executive Authority for Water and Wastewater, the New Urban Communities Authority, and representatives from China’s Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipes Company and Egypt’s TEDA.
Dr. Ismail highlighted the importance of promoting investments in Egypt, encouraging international companies to establish a presence in the country. He outlined the ministry’s long-term vision to meet the growing demands for water and sewage infrastructure in line with Egypt’s ambitious national plans.
The discussions emphasized the urgent need for ductile iron pipes over the next five years to support the construction of new infrastructure and upgrade existing facilities. This initiative is expected to boost local manufacturing and position Egypt as a regional hub for the Middle East and North Africa.
Captain Ahmed Gamal Metwally reinforced the need for collaboration between various entities to facilitate local manufacturing and overcome challenges facing global companies operating in Egypt.
Representatives from Xinxing provided an update on their factory under construction in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The factory is expected to be operational by March 2025, with trial runs beginning in December 2024.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continued collaboration and adherence to Egyptian standards and codes, ensuring that local production meets the country’s needs.