Egypt getting a new freezone: Egypt’s Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD) and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) have signed an MoU with Dubai port operator DP World to study the feasibility of developing a new public freezone in Egypt, according to a statement.

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What we know: The freezone will cover 500 feddans of land — owned by ACUD — and is set to serve companies operating in the manufacturing, trade, and logistics sectors and industries including electronics, vehicles, and clothing.

What’s next? The MoU states that the parties involved will shortly kickstart technical and feasibility studies, ahead of inking the official contracts for the new project.

It’s not the only Emirati freezone project on the drawing table: Recent meetings in August between government officials and Emirati government and business figures covered a proposal to set up an Emirati industrial zone in East Port Said, which the government said it was considering making a freezone or special economic zone exempt from customs duties.

AND- Another private freezone? Egypt’s cabinet approved a draft decision to set up a private freezone under the name Yada Egypt in New Alamein’s industrial zone. The EUR 70 mn zone will focus on furniture manufacturing, with 100% of its output earmarked for exports.

More details: The zone will have an annual production target of 40 mn pieces of furniture with the local component ratio starting at 40% to be increased to 80%.

ALSO IN EGYPT- SCZone gets ready to welcome a new plastic factory: The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) signed a contract with Dubai-based polyurethane systems firm, Pearl Polyurethane Systems, to set up a polyurethane factory in the Sokhna Industrial Zone, with initial investments of EGP 100 mn, according to a SCZone statement.

What we know: The plant will be set up within the ready-to-use factories area developed by industrial developer Main Development Company over 5k sqm. The plant will create about 45 jobs from the start, with the second phase slated to bring in additional investments and more jobs. Production is set to start in 1Q 2025, with a targeted capacity of 20k tons of polyurethane annually, with its sights set on Africa and Southern Europe as potential exports markets.

About the company: Founded in 2006, Pearl specializes in polyurethane and polyester insulation solutions and other applications. The company has over 35 years of experience in Middle Eastern markets, and boasts several investments in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and India.

OTHER ZONES NEWS-

Emtelle opens new manufacturing facility in Kezad: UK-based Emtelle has opened a new fiber optics research and manufacturing facility in the Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad), according to a statement.

The facility covers 48k square meters in the Kezad Area A, and will produce high-performance telecom infrastructure solutions for global markets. Kezad and Emtelle broke ground on the USD 50 mn project in April 2023.

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