Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly visited the Sukari gold mine on Monday, signalling a renewed push to overhaul the North African nation's mining sector as the government courts foreign investors and seeks to ramp up mineral exports. Accompanied by Petroleum Minister Karim Badawy and members of the Parliament, the prime minister said Egypt is working on a comprehensive strategy to unlock the economic potential of its mineral wealth. "We're adopting an integrated approach with Parliament to reform the legislative and investment environment in line with global standards," he noted during the site tour near Marsa Alam in the Eastern Desert. The Sukari Mine, Egypt's largest gold operation, is a joint venture between the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA) and AngloGold Ashanti, the world's fourth-largest gold producer. It is viewed as a model for future public-private partnerships in the extractive industries. The government aims to raise the mining sector's contribution to GDP and reduce reliance on imports. Prime Minister Madbouly highlighted efforts to modernise investment agreements and said talks with international mining firms are underway. Minister Badawy emphasised that transforming the EMRA into a fully-fledged economic entity —now under parliamentary review—is critical to attracting capital. "This step will help create a more dynamic and competitive investment climate," he said. The tour comes as Egypt accelerates reforms to position itself as a regional hub for mining, with a focus on maximising local value-added, increasing export capacity, and creating skilled jobs. The government has identified the sector as a key pillar of its broader economic development plan, especially amid ongoing geopolitical and fiscal pressures. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
