Coffee with Sky Ports Chairman Tarek Hussein: EnterpriseAM sat down with Tarek Hussein (LinkedIn), Chairman of Sky Ports, on the sidelines of this year’s TransMEA forum. As the Egypt-based firm ups its presence in ports under the jurisdiction of Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) — we got Hussein’s insights on their projects in SCZone ports, and how his firm is navigating the regional logistics market amid global trade uncertainty.

Sky Ports? Sky Ports is a business unit of Sky Logistics, a subsidiary of Sky InvestmentsHolding, which specializes in operating multipurpose terminals. The company has a well-established presence across Egyptian ports, providing terminal operations, cargo handling, and bonded warehouses services.

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EnterpriseAM: What are some milestone projects your company is scheduled to kick off or close over the coming year?

Tarek Hussein: Over the coming year, Sky Ports will commission its bulk cement export hub at East Port Said. We are also in negotiations to launch a new multi-purpose terminal in Sokhna — both agreements are set to expand our projects in the zone.

The cement silos project at East Port Said will have a major impact on the economy — through opening entirely new export lanes for Egyptian cement. It comprises eight concrete silos, designed to handle up to 20k tons per day and around 4-5 mn tons per year of bulk cement for export.

This project is especially built to meet international standards that could enable [Egypt] unlock new markets we have never reached before for this product, such as the United States, which will have a positive impact on Egyptian exports.

In parallel, we have plans for a new multi-purpose terminal in Sokhna on the Red Sea. We continue to scale our terminal in East Port Said, building on a trial year that saw around 9.6 mn tons handled, reduced vessel waiting times to 4-5 hours, and delivered tangible savings for exporters and importers, We will keep adding equipment, systems, and services to ensure East Port Said remains one of the most efficient bulk and general cargo terminals in the region.

E: What regulatory or policy shift would you like to see to support more growth in the country’s logistics sector?

TH: The Egyptian authorities have taken major steps over the past years toward turning Egypt into a global logistics hub for trade, especially in infrastructure and investment facilitation. Yet, there are still important steps ahead to fully achieve that goal.

Some ideas include extending and standardizing single-window systems — in a bid that port community platforms, customs, and economic zones eventually share one digital platform, viewing cargo status, clearances, vessel schedules — cutting dwell times and paperwork across all gateways.

Targeted incentives for specialized export infrastructure would also help. For example, clear and long-term incentives for investments in projects built to suit destination-market standards, like our cement silos project, would help Egyptian products unlock new markets, such as the US and Europe, by meeting the needed technical requirements. It would also help support compliance with emerging carbon and product regulations. This combination would cut dwell times, lower costs, and give investors the confidence to keep scaling Egypt as a global logistics hub.

E: What are some exciting developments you see happening in the regional logistics sector, and how is your company capitalizing on these?

TH:The SCZone is rapidly emerging as a single industrial-logistics platform, with growing flows on both the Mediterranean and Red Sea legs, driven by significant efforts from Egyptian authorities, particularly the Transport Ministry and Investment Ministry. Sky Ports is capitalizing on this by pairing a proven high-efficiency terminal at East Port Said and dedicated cement export silos, which opens high-value markets for Egyptian producers.

Our terminal in East Port Said is an integral part of this success story, as it works towards meeting a rising demand for compliant and value-added export solutions.

E: Who are the largest external investors in Egypt’s logistics sector at the moment, and do you expect this to remain the same in the long run?

TH:Global port and logistics leaders — such as DP World and Hutchison — are currently among the largest external investors in Egypt’s logistics sector, alongside growing Gulf and Asian capital. We expect these players to remain central in the long run, while Egyptian operators like Sky Ports add local expertise, jobs, and innovation, making the overall ecosystem stronger and more resilient.

E: How do you expect the volatile global trade environment to impact the local logistics sector?

TH:Route volatility and geopolitical risk, including disruptions in and around the Red Sea, are reinforcing the value of reliable, well-located hubs on the Suez corridor. This increases the strategic importance of assets like East Port Said and Sokhna for cargo owners and shipping lines.

Egypt and Sky Ports need to focus on building terminals that can consistently cut waiting times, raise productivity, and offer integrated port-to-plant solutions that will attract both cargo and investments, even in turbulent times.

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