Egypt's total exports of leather products is expected to hike from US$170 million to US$800 million annually after finishing relocating all tanneries to Al Robeky leather zone. Egyptian Minister of Industry Tarek Qabil stated Sunday that Al Robeky leather zone project includes three phases to accommodate all existent factories in Magra El Oyon region. The cost of project's first phase is estimated at around one billion Egyptian pounds (US$ 56 million), the minister pointed out, adding that the second phase targets upgrading the relocated factories. Around 200 million pounds have been allocated for project's second phase which is set to be established on an area of 116 feddans. Qabil clarified that the third phase of Al Robeky leather zone would target attracting foreign investments to fields of feeding industries and added value industries. The Egyptian Cabinet targets relocating all leather tannies from Magra El Oyon region to Al Robeky zone. The project is set to be the first specialised industrial zone as it will seize around 45-55 percent of leather products, thus, upgrading tanning processes to cope with the latest global systems.
