Egypt plans to capture a 10 per cent share of the Arab and African construction market — valued at more than $200 billion annually — within the next decade, the investment ministry said Thursday. The government looks to boost exports and secure overseas contracts for local firms. Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Hassan El-Khatib said the construction sector is a strategic pillar of Egypt's economy, underpinning housing and infrastructure projects, meeting local demand, and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. The government is working to remove obstacles facing the industry and help contractors expand abroad, he said after meeting with the Export Council for Building Materials, Refractory, and Metallurgy Industries (ECBM). A study presented by the council highlighted the sector's growing contribution to the economy, including rising exports of building materials, engineering consultancy and logistics services. It said Egyptian contractors' projects abroad not only generate revenue but also reinforce bilateral ties with regional partners. Council members urged the activation of an export credit guarantee company, stronger representation in bilateral business councils, and deeper coordination with Egyptian trade offices abroad to identify new opportunities. They also pushed for inclusion in official trade delegations to target markets. Egypt's construction industry has delivered some of the country's largest-ever projects under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, giving local firms the scale and expertise to compete internationally, the council said. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
