(AFP Photo)
The General Authority for Industrial and Mining Projects plans to finish establishing seven logistical areas during the first quarter (Q1) of 2015, according to an authority official.
The logistical areas lie in Luxor, Beni Suef, Tanta, Talkha, Damanhur, Port Said and Kafr El-Zayat.
The official said that two trade areas in Tanta and Beni Suef, being constructed by the Arab Contractors company, are almost finished. He added that the total cost of establishing the seven areas is estimated at EGP 150m.
He added that the government plans to finish establishing 13 industrial zones by the end of 2015. Of these, three zones will be in Sohag, three in Beni Suef, one in Gamasa in Daqahleya governorate, another in El-Wadi El-Gedid, two in Kafr El-Sheikh and two in Qaliubiya.
“We aim to distribute industrial areas so as to create a fair investments distribution between governorates during the next period to ensure decreasing high poverty rates, especially in poorer governorates in the South of Egypt,” said the official.
He said the current industrial zones in Upper Egypt do not have natural gas pumping, in addition to the high cost of goods transport. The government works to extend gas lines to these areas as well as develop river anchors and transportations in four governorates, according to the official.
The government plans to launch the mining port of Safaga next March, according to Medhat Maher, head of the authority’s Technical Affairs Sector, for implementing projects launched by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. He added that the project will be essential for development projects sought by the state during the coming period, especially in the South of Egypt.
The investment cost of development works at the port is estimated at EGP 1.2bn, according to Maher.
The executive body of industrial and mining projects was originally founded by president Gamal Abdel Nasser after the 1952 revolution. The body has built a number of important factories, from the iron and steel complex in Helwan to the aluminium complex in Nagaa Hammady.
