Though Egypt’s currency woes have filtered through the entire economy, the industrial sector was hit particularly hard in 2015-16. The weakness of the Egyptian pound had slowed the pace of new investment and led to plant shutdowns by foreign investors. With a shortage of US dollars, manufacturers have to source funds in the parallel market,...
With a market of 92m consumers and growing, Egypt is a natural fit for manufacturing industries. The sector spans a diverse range of activities, largely led by the private sector, that range from building materials and downstream processing, to long-running textile factories, as well as competitive food and fast-moving consumer goods segments. Yet the government hopes to further expand, and...
While Egypt continues to face considerable economic challenges as it confronts the legacy of its recent political history, at the outset of 2017 the nation’s economic planners have reason for optimism.
The textiles sector is among Egypt’s oldest and most important industrial segments. With the introduction of Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs) in 2004, giving exporters tariff-free access to the US market, the textiles industry reached new heights. Indeed, for much of the 2000s, the industry was experiencing double-digit growth. However, the...
What makes Egypt an attractive base for the production of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG)?
In countries around the world, the cement industry is often seen as a bellwether. When it is performing well, it suggests an economy in full flow, moving in the right direction. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that much like the rest of the industrial sector and the economy at large, Egypt’s cement producers – which account for 3.7% of GDP...