Dr. Mohamed Farid:
- We are working to deepen partnerships with international companies to enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy.
- Expansion of industrial gases projects supports the growth of heavy and manufacturing industries.
Eng. Khaled Hashim:
- Localizing industrial gas production technologies is a priority to support strategic industries.
- We call for studying the local manufacturing of gas cooling units to reduce the import bill.
Nicolas Poirot:
- We intend to increase our investments in the Egyptian market in the coming period.
- Egypt represents a promising market and enjoys highly skilled human resources.
As part of the State’s efforts to promote investment and attract international companies, Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade (MIFT Minister), and Eng. Khaled Hashim, Minister of Trade and Industry (MTI Minister), held an expanded meeting with a delegation from “Air Liquide” France, headed by Mr. Nicolas Poirot, CEO of the Africa, Middle East, India, and Kazakhstan, with the participation of Mr. Brian Chetty, Air Liquide General Manager. The meeting aimed to explore opportunities to expand the company’s investments in the Egyptian market and strengthen cooperation in the fields of industrial gases and clean energy.
The meeting reviewed the company’s activities in Egypt since 2002, during which it has operated around 15 production sites and served more than 800 customers across various industrial sectors. Its investments have exceeded €100 million in recent years, in addition to plans to expand pipeline networks and develop supporting infrastructure for industrial growth in several regions.
MIFT Minister affirmed that the Egypt places significant importance on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly in high value-added industrial sectors. He noted that the government exerts efforts to improve the business environment and streamline procedures, thereby enhancing the confidence of international investors, in light of the country’s advanced infrastructure and strategic geographic location, which qualify it to become a regional hub for various industries.
He further pointed out that the expansion of industrial gases projects constitutes a key driver for the growth of heavy and manufacturing industries. Accordingly, the State is moving toward supporting the adoption of modern technologies, particularly in energy efficiency and emissions reduction, in line with the transition toward a green economy and the promotion of sustainability.
He also emphasized the importance of transferring advanced expertise and technology to enhance production efficiency and increase the competitiveness of Egyptian products in global markets.
Dr. Farid stressed the government’s commitment to supporting serious companies seeking to expand in the Egyptian market, affirming the readiness of relevant authorities to provide the necessary facilitations for the implementation of new projects, thereby contributing to job creation and higher economic growth rates.
On his part, Eng. Khaled Hashim, highlighted MTI’s keenness to benefit from the expertise of Air Liquide in localizing industrial gas production technologies, given their role as intermediate inputs in several strategic industries, including iron and steel, glass, pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries.
He also called on Air Liquide officials to study the possibility of locally manufacturing gas cooling units, particularly those used in natural gas extraction companies, in order to add value and reduce reliance on imports.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nicolas Poirot affirmed that Air Liquide views the Egyptian market as one of the most promising in the region, noting its plans to increase investments in the coming period, building on its previous investments exceeding €100 million.
He added that Egypt possesses a strong base of skilled human resources, particularly in engineering and industrial technologies, which represents a key factor supporting the company’s expansion plans at the regional level.
MR. Brian Chetty noted the company’s interest in expanding hydrogen and energy projects in the Egyptian market, stressing that there are significant opportunities for cooperation with the Egyptian side in this field, in support of the State’s direction toward localizing strategic industries and advancing the transition to a green economy.
