Egypt's Cabinet on Thursday approved granting the golden licence to the Egyptian Soda Ash Company (ESAC) for a $680 million soda ash and derivatives plant in New Alamein. The one-stop approval is designed to streamline regulatory procedures and accelerate investment projects. The plant, located on a 1.12 million square metre industrial site, is expected to generate around 600 direct jobs and 2,000 indirect positions, while securing domestic supply of soda ash and supporting related industries including glass, detergents, paper, metals, and pharmaceuticals. The project aims to localise advanced production technology, with at least 50 per cent of production inputs sourced locally by value and volume. Completion is projected by mid-2027. The approval is part of Egypt's broader strategy to attract private investment, expand industrial capacity, and promote technology transfer in priority sectors. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
