The activities of the round table “Egyptian cement industry – opportunities, challenges and solutions” were launched. Organized by the Construction and Building Committee of the Egyptian-African Businessmen Association, In cooperation with the African Union of Construction and Building Organizations, It was hosted by the Egyptian Contractors Union. At the headquarters of the Arab Contractors Union in Cairo, Today 9Feb
Discussions revolved around collecting and enumerating the most important problems and challenges. The most important of which is the difference between the maximum capacity of factory production and the size of the consumer in the local market. And how to unify visions about the Egyptian cement industry, To come up with practical, practical solutions to meet the various challenges. And open new horizons and opportunities for this important industry.
And participated in the attendance of Dr. Yousrey ElSharkawi, chairman of the Egyptian-African Businessmen Association, Moataz Mohamed Mahmoud, Chairman of the Industry Committee in the House of Representatives, and Mohamed Sami Saad, president of the Egyptian Federation of Construction and Building Contractors, Engineer Hassan Abdelaziz, President of the African Confederation of Construction Contractors Organizations, and Mahmoud Hegazy, Chairman of the Construction and Building Committee, and 13 chairmen of boards of directors and decision makers in major cement and contracting companies in Egypt.
In his speech, ElSharkawi stressed his abundant thanks for the producers’ interest in attending and presenting all they have from the reality of the actual work; To narrow down the problems and explain that cement is a very important component of the construction industry, Pointing out that investment in the cement industry in Egypt is estimated at a quarter of a trillion pounds. It includes 50 thousand workers, and that the costs of the cement industry require a complete analytical study in the energy and transport items.
El-Sharkawi added that the market is divided between 30% in state projects and 70% in retail consumption, Therefore, the presence of national projects in the construction infrastructure in infrastructure projects in Egypt has been of paramount importance in the last five years. Without it, most factories would have stopped. Recently, the cement retail market was affected by the new decisions that prevented construction on agricultural lands.
ElSharkawi noted that the role of associations and federations is to try to bring points of view closer, Develop solutions and communicate them to the decision maker. Pointing out that the problem faced by the cement industry has existed for some time. Noting that everyone works on isolated islands, Pointing out that the studies that have not been brought into full focus.
He called for the urgent completion of a brief study that includes the most important aspects of industry, production, transportation, energy, employment and maintenance. In order to reach to activate demand in the direction of government projects, And that this is not difficult, but rather possible, given the government’s announcement of transport projects, trains, ports, and the development of villages, all of which are in dire need of Egyptian cement with the possibility of converting road construction systems from asphalt to concrete roads. This will contribute to improving quality and specifications.
Mahmoud Hegazy, head of the construction committee at the Egyptian-African Businessmen Association, confirmed, By making a working paper that includes challenges and solutions from the point of view of those in charge of the cement industry, to submit it to the decision-maker to assist in the solution, He pointed out that all industries affecting the cement industry were affected, as well as this sector and employment.
Moataz Mohamed Mahmoud, head of the Industry Committee in the House of Representatives, confirmed that there is a clear trend from the state to increase Egyptian exports. for $100 billion, He explained that the country has invested more than 2 trillion in infrastructure. Pointing out that foreign investment is difficult to exist in the presence of an Egyptian investor who is suspended or suffering, Noting the need to reform the entire system with an integrated plan, Certainly, there is a problem facing the industry in the old laws and legislations, and this has led to a flaw in the original law.
The most important recommendations of the table came in assigning the Egyptian African Businessmen Association and the African Contractors Union to supervise the presentation of an integrated working paper compiled by all participants with reviewing and updating all previous studies in cooperation with global expertise offices and reaching a conclusion with the completed solutions to be submitted to the House of Representatives and decision makers.