Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir has directed a feasibility study on establishing a freight terminal along the 10th of Ramadan–Belbeis railway line. The proposed site would be located in the heart of the 10th of Ramadan industrial zone, aiming to facilitate the movement of goods to consumption areas and export ports. Al-Wazir stressed the vital role of the Ministry of Industry's Productivity and Vocational Training Department in preparing skilled workers to meet the needs of Egyptian industry. This, he said, is achieved through partnerships between the department and factories, where the private sector supervises training centres to ensure graduates are equipped with the technical skills and modern technologies required by the labour market. The remarks came during one of the minister's regular visits to industrial zones and factories to follow up on production activities and address manufacturing challenges. In the 10th of Ramadan industrial zone in Sharqia Governorate, Al-Wazir inspected six factories specialising in rolling, galvanising, and coating flat steel sheets, as well as textile production. The tour began at El-Gallad Steel, a cold-rolled steel sheet producer operating on a 25,000 sqm site with EGP 5bn in capital investment. The factory has a monthly production capacity of 8,000 tonnes of steel sheets, with 30% local content, exporting 15% of its output. It employs 125 workers. Company officials briefed the minister on plans to upgrade production lines and add new equipment worth $3m, which would increase monthly output to between 13,000 and 15,000 tonnes. The minister then visited Ataya Egypt, a producer of bridge bearings and expansion joints, occupying 2,400 sqm. The factory's monthly capacity includes 6,000 elastomeric bearings, 300 mechanical bearings, and 2,000 rubber expansion joints, with 79% local content. It employs 103 workers. The tour continued at the Kama for Coating and Manufacturing industrial complex, which includes a steel rolling, coating, and galvanising plant covering 77,000 sqm. The plant's annual capacity is 900,000 tonnes of cold-rolled galvanised and colour-coated steel coils, employing 984 engineers and workers. Al-Wazir inspected the Steel Fiber production line, used to reinforce concrete for roads, airports, ports, and industrial facilities. The minister also visited Kama's metalworking plant, which spans 22,000 sqm, with capital investments exceeding EGP 155m. With a 98% local content rate, the plant produces 95,000 tonnes annually, exporting 20% of its output. It employs 465 engineers and workers. The inspection included production lines for colour-coated steel sheets, galvanising, slitting, cutting, punching, laser cutting, pipe manufacturing, cladding, electric transformers, special electrical panel coatings, cable trays, metal furniture, and fire boxes. Al-Wazir inaugurated a new production line for aluminium and steel panels designed for building façades, metro and train stations, kiosks, electrical boxes, furniture, and road barriers. He instructed immediate coordination with the General Authority for Roads and Bridges to consider using these panels as a cost-effective alternative to imported aluminium cladding. The Kama complex also recycles all production waste and scrap into clean alternatives to reinforcing steel, reducing carbon emissions, cutting production costs, and optimising industrial waste use. Highlighting the sector's strategic importance, Al-Wazir said metal forming is a cornerstone of domestic industry, supplying components for engineering industries, electrical appliances, household goods, automobiles, and infrastructure-related manufacturing. Egypt, he noted, enjoys competitive advantages in metal forming thanks to its raw material availability, advanced technology, technical expertise, and skilled labour. The minister then toured Pyramids Steel, which operates on a 16,000 sqm site with EGP 5m in capital and annual sales of EGP 675m. The factory produces 1 million sqm of panel steel sheets and 500,000 tonnes of coloured and slit steel sheets annually, with 35% local content. It exports 10% of its output and employs 300 workers. Chairman Eng. Mohamed Tawfik briefed the minister during a tour of the sheet metal, foam, slitting, and colouring lines. Al-Wazir approved the company's request to establish a new 20,000 sqm factory to produce steel sheets for the automotive and household appliance sectors. The visit concluded at Egy Denim Textile, which has over $3m in capital, 100% local content, and exports 10% of its production.
