Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) has broken ground on two Chinese‐backed textile projects worth more than $55 million in Sokhna Industrial Zone, part of its push to attract export‐oriented manufacturing and boost industrial integration. SCZONE Chairman Waleid Gamal El‐Dien said Thursday the projects, located in the TEDA–Egypt industrial developer area, underscore growing international investor confidence in the zone's investment climate. The first venture, by Bridge Textile International Egypt, will create a $25 million integrated complex on 40,000 square metres, producing 25 million metres of high‐quality fabrics and 105,000 tons of fibre annually. It is expected to generate 500 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs. The second project, by F‐TEX International, will span 55,000 square metres with 60 production lines for Draw Textured Yarn (DTY) polyester fibres, costing around $30 million. It is planned to be fully operational by end‐2027, producing 130,000 tons annually and generating $150 million in export revenues, with 400 direct jobs created. Gamal El‐Dien said SCZONE is working to allocate an additional 10 square kilometres to TEDA–Egypt following recent discussions in China. "There were discussions during my recent visit to the People's Republic of China that included the allocation of a new 10-square-kilometer area for TEDA in light of the nearing completion of previous development phases, most recently 2.86 square kilometres." Gamal El‐Dien said in a statement. "We have successfully fostered a favourable environment for major industrial ventures, attracting $8.6 billion in investments across 297 projects during the last 3 years, including $4.4 billion across 121 projects in the most recent fiscal year alone." he added. The textile projects are part of SCZONE's strategy to localise strategic industries, deepen local manufacturing and expand Egypt's export base, benefiting from the zone's proximity to seaports and global markets. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser
