ABB is a leading global technology company that energises the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. ABB, 130 years of innovation
Loay Dajani, Country Managing Director ABB, Egypt, gave exclusive answers to The Egyptian Gazette on the following inquiries.
What is the size of your investment in Egypt?
ABB in Egypt has been present since 1926 and started its investment in 1979. In the past 10 years we have invested $200m offering a wide range of innovative products and solutions for safe, smart, sustainable energy generation, transmission and distribution. ABB in Egypt is considered a manufacturing hub serving many vital sectors catering to the local market and countries in Middle East and Africa. ABB is continuously expanding its manufacturing processes and facilities pushing the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels and energise the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future.
ABB in Egypt has a 100,000 m2 advanced manufacturing facility in 10th of Ramadan city, with a state-of-the-art showroom where the latest innovative products and solutions are in display. ABB has recently moved in a new HQ in Cairo and runs a free zone export assembly unit in Cairo, a regional Drives workshop in 10th of Ramadan, a Motion and Drives workshop in El Obour city, and an office in in Alexandria.
How many jobs are directly or indirectly created by your company?
At ABB, a culture of diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity is critical to our business success and makes us stronger. ABB employs nearly 1500 employees and we are very proud of our diversity and of our workforce mix.
What are the opportunities that the pandemic has created for your business?
Recent changes and challenges around the world with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, has driven our resilience to new levels, which has been at the same time a test and an opportunity for our businesses.
Our prime focus is to keep our people safe, secure business continuity and help our stakeholders and society emerge stronger from this crisis.
ABB managed to deliver a robust global financial performance, while keeping our people safe and supporting our customers. In Egypt, the results for our first quarter for 2021, were also very satisfactory. Our best performance came covering many vital sectors in Egypt namely water and utilities sector, health, data centers, smart cities and smart buildings.
ABB products and solutions were also an integral part of many national and private sector projects, the impact of which will def. make a difference in the lives of many Egyptians.
How do you think your line of business can contribute to building a better future?
The world we live in is undergoing rapid change. From industrialisation to urbanisation and digitalisation, we must find a way to successfully manage the pressures being placed on our planet.
At ABB, we are committed to writing the future of safe, smart and sustainable electrification for everything from industry and buildings to infrastructure and transportation. Our vision is to achieve a sustainable reality for the future that has started today.
How do you think of sustainability more broadly at your company? And why is it an important part of your business?
At ABB, our approach has always been to seek a balance between the needs of society, the environment and the economy. We provide solutions and technologies that are enabling the society to preserve resources, become cleaner, more efficient, resilient and flexible. As a technology leader with operations in more than 100 countries, we are focusing on those areas in which we can make the biggest impact – enabling a low-carbon society by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving resources and promoting social progress.
What were your company’s major sustainability achievements in 2020?
2020 was like no other year for ABB. ABB exceeded most of its environmental, social and governance targets covering the three areas of leading technology, responsible operations and responsible relationships.
ABB managed to overachieve most of its 2020 targets and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and set a clear path forward with new sustainability strategy 2030.
2020 has also seen ABB in Egypt carrying out many new endeavours as a responsible corporate citizen, striving to combine strategic corporate partnerships with country-level projects to address local needs, provide assistance for the most vulnerable and help ease its impact on specific social segments.
Finally, is doing good, good for business?
Definitely true … courage, care, curiosity and collaboration … these are the ABB values that are the cornerstone of our culture. They shape everything we do, guide our behaviour and interactions with our colleagues, customers, partners and society, and help us realise our purpose through our “ABB Way” operating model. By living our four ABB values, we lead by example in how we do business and behave. So yes, doing good is good for business but is also good for each one of us!
