• Fruitful partners with Elsewedy unit to launch processing project in Egypt

• New facility will produce frozen foods with 600 tons monthly capacity

• Project targets exports and could create over 5,000 jobs

The Polish group Fruitful, active in the production and trade of frozen fruits and vegetables, has signed an agreement with Elsewedy Industrial Development, a subsidiary of Egypt’s Elsewedy Electric Group, to establish operations in Egypt.

According to a statement released on December 15 by the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), the partnership enabled the Polish group to acquire a site located in 10th of Ramadan City to develop a new horticultural processing project.

The project, whose cost has not yet been disclosed, will be developed on an area of about 0.9 hectares and will include a production unit for frozen food products. The facility will use advanced technologies such as IQF (individually quick frozen) and freeze-drying, with a production capacity of 600 tons per month.

The statement said most of the production will be destined for export and will meet international standards, and that the project is expected to generate more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs across various value chains, including strawberry and mango farms, agro-processing units, cold storage facilities, and logistics services.

According to Fruitful chief executive officer Yasser Morsi, Egypt was chosen because of its advanced infrastructure, concrete investment facilitation measures, and strategic position providing access to regional and global markets. He also noted that the country has a large production base capable of supplying the future plant with raw materials.

Egypt is Africa’s leading strawberry producer, with average annual output of about 613,556 tons between 2019 and 2023, according to data compiled by Tridge. The North African country is also the continent’s second-largest mango producer after Malawi, with average annual production estimated at 1.5 million tons over the same period, based on the same source.

More broadly, the commissioning of the new facility is expected to strengthen value creation in Egypt’s fruit industry. FAO data show that Egypt generated $2.46 billion in fruit export revenues in 2023, making it Africa’s second-largest fruit exporter by value after South Africa.

Stéphanas Assocle