The Minister of Trade and Industry Amr Nassar said that the construction sector is one of the most important export sectors in the Egyptian economy, and that it enjoys great competitive advantages and huge opportunities for access to a large number of regional, and international markets. He noted that exports of building materials increased by 8.1% in the first seven months this year, scoring $3.215bn, up from $2.973bn in the same period last year.
This came during the inauguration of the Big 5 Construct Egypt, which is held at the Egyptian International Exhibition Centre from 18 to 21 September, with a widespread international participation. The conference includes six main departments, namely mechanical, electrical, health engineering, finishing, building and construction, construction materials, building materials, construction technologies and innovations, construction machinery, and equipment.
Nassar said that Egypt’s hosting of this international exhibition for the first time reflects the importance of the Egyptian market as a regional hub for the manufacture and export of building materials in the Middle East and Africa.
The exhibition is being held on an area of 24,000 sqm, with the participation of 300 exhibitors from 25 countries., he added. The conference will witness 22 workshops and will be attended by over 30,000 exhibitors and buyers worldwide.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that the building materials industry represents one of the strategic industries in Egypt’s economy. Nassar added that Egypt is one of the largest producers of construction equipment and materials in the Middle East region, pointing out that the main building materials industries in Egypt include cement, cement products, marble and granite products, insulation materials, pipes and accessories, tiles, ceramics and sanitary equipment, quarry products, ceramic products, and refractories.
He also highlighted that there are huge opportunities to increase the exports of Egyptian building materials to the markets of Africa and some Arab countries during the current phase, underscoring the importance of benefiting from the incentives provided by the state for exports destined to the markets of these countries, by up to 50% on shipping costs.
The Big 5 has been held for 30 years in the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. The exhibition also organises specialised events in the sectors of concrete, machinery, vehicles, ventilation, heating, air conditioning, solar energy, glass, and fixtures.
