CAIRO – Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El Wazir announced Friday that the government is preparing to offer several licenses for the production of billet with special technical specifications.
The issuance of the licences aimed to meet the needs of the industry for weldable iron, earthquake-resistant materials, and materials suitable for use in saltwater and marine environments, as well as to support all advanced technical and engineering uses, he said.
He added that his ministry will work in the coming period according to a plan to cover the local market’s needs for billet.
This will be achieved by redistributing the surplus available from producing factories in favor of rolling mills, according to each factory’s production capacity, according to him.
This is a temporary solution until the new billet factories begin operations, with the aim of achieving full market stability and meeting local demand, he said during a meeting with major iron manufacturers and producers in Egypt to discuss the challenges facing the sector and explore ways to develop it and increase its competitiveness regionally and internationally.
The minister explained that the meeting aims to develop a comprehensive roadmap to deepen and advance the iron industry in Egypt, considering it one of the fundamental pillars of national industry. It is also a feeder industry that serves as a launchpad for many other industries such as construction, automobiles, household appliances, and engineering industries, he noted.
The minister emphasized that strengthening this sector is a strategic necessity to support production chains, increase added value, and enable manufacturers to expand production and access foreign markets.
Wazir pointed out that Egypt possesses competitive advantages qualifying it to lead the regional iron industry. These include the availability of raw materials, access to technology and technical knowledge, a trained workforce with reasonable wages, and a large domestic market capable of absorbing production.
He stressed the need to convert these advantages into actual export opportunities by expanding into foreign markets and positioning Egypt as a regional hub for iron trade and related manufacturing, capitalizing on its geographic location, developed infrastructure, and international trade agreements.
The minister noted that the meeting represents a first step toward establishing unified industrial principles and policies to deepen local manufacturing.
“These will be prepared in coordination between the ministry, the Federation of Egyptian Industries, and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce. All manufacturers will be required to adhere to these policies as a common reference to support the stability of industrial policies and achieve integration between the state and the private sector.”
He instructed the formation of a joint technical committee comprising representatives from the Industrial Development Authority, the Federation of Industries, and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce. This committee will study various related technical and operational aspects and develop clear recommendations to help shape the required policies and achieve the desired industrial goals within a comprehensive vision that supports growth and competitiveness, according to him.
Wazir reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to providing a supportive and stimulating environment for industrial investment, enhancing production efficiency, and removing obstacles for manufacturers.
This will contribute to achieving sustainable economic development and push the national industry toward greater progress, in line with the directives of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to transform Egypt into a regional industrial hub, he said.
For their part, iron manufacturers explained the key challenges and demands related to the sector, praising the minister’s clear policies and direction in support of the national industry. They affirmed that what was presented in the meeting reflects a serious vision toward creating a stable and promising industrial environment.
They also expressed their full readiness to cooperate and work according to the principles and policies that will be approved, contributing to the achievement of shared goals and strengthening the iron industry’s position as one of the pillars of the national economy.
