Egypt’s Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem and Spanish Ambassador to Egypt Sergio Román Carranza Förster discussed on Tuesday ways to boost industrial co-operation and attract more Spanish companies to the Egyptian market.
The discussions reviewed available industrial investment opportunities in Egypt for Spanish firms, alongside embassy initiatives designed to encourage companies to expand their presence in areas of mutual interest. Both sides highlighted successful examples of Spanish businesses operating in Egypt’s industrial sector and explored ways to build on these achievements.
Minister Hashem underscored the solid economic relations between the two countries, which are rooted in a long history of co-operation across various fields and aligned political leaderships. He affirmed the ministry’s commitment to deepening industrial ties, attracting further investment, and addressing any challenges facing Spanish companies operating in Egypt.
The ministry aims to increase the presence of Spanish businesses in target sectors under its updated strategy, particularly textiles and ready-made garments, automotive industries, and renewable energy. Hashem noted that such investments will help deepen these industries, enhance local capabilities, and benefit both economies.
To present available opportunities and incentives for expanding local manufacturing, the ministry proposed hosting a roundtable for interested Spanish companies. Hashem also emphasised Egypt’s interest in transferring advanced Spanish technologies to support domestic industries across various fields.
For his part, Ambassador Förster affirmed Spain’s interest in strengthening industrial, trade, and investment co-operation with Egypt, describing it as one of Spain’s key regional partners. He stressed that both sides need to intensify efforts to raise bilateral trade to levels that reflect their strong ties, particularly given the ongoing interest among Spanish companies in exploring partnerships with Egyptian firms.
The envoy noted that more than 60 Spanish companies currently operate in Egypt across sectors such as cement, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and railways. Furthermore, several delegation visits from sectors including agribusiness, machinery, and equipment are expected in the coming period.
