Egypt Minister Tours Marble Hub, Pledges Support for Export Growth
Shaq El-Thoban, Egypt – Egypt’s Minister of Industry, Khaled Hashem, recently toured the Shaq El-Thoban industrial area, a major marble and granite production cluster, alongside Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber. The visit underscored the government’s commitment to bolstering the country’s mining and building materials industries and increasing export competitiveness.
The inspection tour included five manufacturing plants and the Mining Industries and Marble Technology Center. Hashem emphasized the ministry’s dedication to supporting industrial zones and streamlining procedures for manufacturers, particularly those operating in this key sector.
“Completing infrastructure works in Shaq El-Thoban is a priority,” Hashem stated, adding that efforts to formalize unlicensed factories would be accelerated to provide businesses access to vital technical support and government services. Legalizing these operations, he explained, would also strengthen their ability to penetrate international export markets.
Manufacturers within the zone highlighted the need for a dedicated training center to address a shortage of skilled labor. They also called for improvements to essential infrastructure, including healthcare and ambulance services.
Several companies showcased significant production capacity and export performance during the tour. United Marble and Granite Company, for example, operates on a 4,300-square-meter site and exports 40% of its 390,000 square meter annual output to markets in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Global Stones, with a larger 14,300-square-meter facility, exports its entire 754,000 square meter annual production to over 73 countries. Modern Marble exports approximately 85% of its 120,000 square meter annual output. Al-Al-Hassana Industrial Development Company, the largest visited, exports 60% of its 300,000 square meter annual production to Europe, the United States, and Australia.
The delegation also visited the Mining Industries and Marble Technology Center, where Hashem reviewed its research and development capabilities, including quarry and mine evaluation and laboratory services. He stressed the center’s crucial role in ensuring Egyptian industrial minerals meet international quality standards.
The government views the marble and granite sector as a high-value, export-oriented industry with significant potential for growth. This visit signals a continued focus on strengthening these industries and promoting industrial integration within strategic production clusters.
