Waleid Gamal El-Din, Chairperson of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), met Sunday with a high-level Chinese trade delegation at the Authority's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. The delegation was led by Li Xin, Vice President of the China National Garment Association (CNGA), and comprised 15 representatives from sub-federations and major textile and apparel manufacturers across several Chinese provinces, including Shandong, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Shanghai. The visit comes as part of ongoing cooperation between Egypt's Commercial Representation Authority and SCZONE to attract foreign direct investment, particularly in high-potential industrial sectors. The meeting was also attended by senior SCZONE executives. Gamal El-Din presented a comprehensive overview of the SCZONE's industrial zones and their competitive advantages for international investors. He underscored the strategic importance of the textile and garment sector in SCZONE's development plans, citing its role in promoting vertical integration and expanding local manufacturing capabilities—from spinning and weaving to finished products. He highlighted that the outcomes of SCZONE's recent promotional roadshow in China reflected growing investor confidence in Egypt's economic prospects and industrial ecosystem. As a result, dedicated zones—particularly Qantara West—have been allocated to support the textile industry. This zone currently hosts 21 Chinese projects in spinning and weaving, reinforcing its position as a regional hub for the sector. Additionally, the Ain Sokhna industrial zone is home to 18 companies operating in textile and apparel manufacturing. Gamal El-Din attributed the region's appeal to its robust infrastructure, streamlined regulatory services, investment incentives, competitive energy costs, and availability of skilled labor. Li Xin expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and emphasized the delegation's goal of exploring available opportunities within SCZONE's industrial zones. He commended SCZONE's reputation among Chinese investors, particularly its efficient "one-stop shop" services that simplify investment procedures. "There is growing interest among Chinese textile and apparel firms in expanding operations in Egypt," Li said, noting the importance of aligning Chinese manufacturing capacity with Egypt's strategic location and industrial infrastructure. This visit follows a successful SCZONE promotional tour in China, during which the Authority engaged with key stakeholders across multiple cities to promote Egypt as a prime investment destination for the textile and garment industry.
