• Saint-Gobain plans €215 million ($253 million) investment in two new plants
• Glass factory in Suez Canal Economic Zone to produce 900 tonnes per day
• Projects aim to boost exports, cut imports and create around 600 jobs

Saint-Gobain will build two new plants in Egypt dedicated to sustainable construction materials, with a total investment of 215 million euros ($253.4 million), Egypt’s Ministry of Industry said in a statement published on April 12.

The projects form part of the group’s expansion strategy in Egypt, the most populous country in the Arab world. Officials discussed the projects during a meeting between Ahmed Wafik, chief executive of the company’s local subsidiary, and Industry Minister Khaled Hashem.

The first plant will be located in the Suez Canal Economic Zone and will specialize in glass production. The facility will require 175 million euros in investment and will become the group’s largest plant in the Middle East and Africa. The plant will produce 900 tonnes of glass per day for the automotive and solar energy sectors, and it will reduce Egypt’s import bill by about $35 million annually.

The second project will involve a plasterboard factory in Sadat City, in northern Egypt, with an investment of 40 million euros. The plant will export 60% of its output and will generate around 600 direct and indirect jobs.

Ahmed Wafik said during the meeting that Egypt remains one of the group’s most strategic markets in the Middle East and North Africa region. He also praised government efforts to support foreign investment and create a favorable business environment.

Saint-Gobain already operates a major flat glass plant in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, along with two other facilities producing construction materials in Sadat City and Borg El Arab. These sites serve both the domestic market and other Middle Eastern markets.

This article was initially published in French by Walid Kéfi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum