A number of international experts attending the 14th Arab International Aluminium Conference, currently in progress in Luxor, warned that Egypt's aluminum industry is facing severe Arab and international competition. The experts advocated that Egypt adopt a strategy that preserves the industry, saying that Naga Hammadi's state-run aluminium factory will be out-of-date within ten years, necessitating substantial investment to modernize. Conference participants said global firms are currently making significant profits in the growing field. They highlighted energy supplies as the major impediment faced by the industry. Joseph Blas, an expert and representative for an international consultancy body, said Egypt products 23,000 tons of aluminum annually while other Arab states, some newly emerging on the market, produce over one million tons. Blas, however, said Egypt's aluminum is of a high quality, and is prefered by purchasers. Head of Egypt for Aluminium Company, Sayyed Abdel Wahab, said that aluminium prices have experienced recent instability, making it more urgent to provide support to the industry to order to avoid a collapse. On the other hand, the head of the Holding Company for Metallurgical Industries, Zaki Basyouni, said the Naga Hammadi plant is considered small if compared with other factories in Egypt, although it boasts sought-after expertise. Basyouni called for investing in the plant to generate jobs for Upper Egyptians. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
