A vibrant oasis of cooperation and mutual benefit flourishes in Egypt

Source | Xinhua News Agency

Reporters | Ma Xiaocheng, Yao Bing, Zhang Jian, Yang Yiran

Once, oases in the desert brought hope to Arab merchants who traveled through. Today, east of Cairo, Egypt's capital, beside the Suez Gulf of the Red Sea, against the backdrop of aligning with the Belt and Road Initiative and Egypt's Suez Canal Corridor Economic Zone, the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (TEDA Cooperation Zone) is becoming a new oasis of win-win cooperation on this land.
Xidian-EGEMAC High-Voltage Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd., a Sino-Egyptian joint venture established by China Xidian Group and its Egyptian counterpart, is one of the Sino-Egyptian joint ventures in this "oasis." "Since we started participating in the general contracting projects of Egypt's national power grid in 2016, we have greatly alleviated Egypt's tight electricity supply situation." said Li Jianfei, general manager of the company.

In recent years, Egypt's development speed has continued to accelerate, putting higher demands on the stable supply of electricity, but the distribution of the country's electricity energy is not balanced.

May 28, at the equipment manufacturing workshop of Xidian-EGEMAC High-Voltage Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd. in Suez Governorate, Egypt, Li Jianfei (right), general manager of the company, communicates with employees. Photo by Yao Bing, Xinhua News Agency

"Our role is to efficiently, with low losses, and safely transmit electricity from southern Egypt to the power consumption areas in the north." Li Jianfei gave an example, saying that the Aswan Benban photovoltaic industrial park step-up substation project, which the company participated in, includes the construction of four 220-kilovolt substations and the expansion of one 500-kilovolt substation. Since the completion of the project, it has continuously provided about 16,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity to the local area, providing strong power support for Egypt's economic and social development.

While directly serving the electricity supply, Xidian-EGEMAC High-Voltage Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd. has also provided many engineering talents in the electrical field to Egyptian society. Currently, the proportion of Egyptian employees in this enterprise is as high as more than 97%. "Over the years, we have sent batches of Egyptian employees to the headquarters of China Xidian in Xi'an for systematic training, including training in corporate culture, product expertise, technical support, and maintenance services. These people have now taken on core positions and even become middle and senior managers." Li Jianfei said.

May 28, workers work in the dishwasher production workshop of Midea Egypt Kitchen and Water Heater Co., Ltd. in the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, Suez Governorate, Egypt. Photo by Yao Bing, Xinhua News Agency

Operating machine tools to press machine casings, assembling parts... Under the guidance of Chinese technicians, one after another brand-new dishwashers are manufactured... This is the scene that reporters saw in the dishwasher production workshop of Midea Egypt Kitchen and Water Heater Co., Ltd.

"In 2021, we started the project demonstration, in June 2023, we started mass production and listing, and by the end of 2024, the dishwashers produced by the Egyptian factory achieved an export share target of 80%. In 2025, our output will double compared to 2024." Chen Weiwei, general manager of Midea Egypt Kitchen and Water Heater Co., Ltd., said, "After the commissioning of our dishwasher factory, it has not only cultivated local technicians but also cultivated Egypt's entire dishwasher industry chain."

Large machinery roared, and the staff worked in an orderly and busy manner... At the construction site of the 250,000-ton cast iron pipe project of China XinXing Cast Pipe Co., Ltd. in Egypt, reporters also saw a busy scene.

This is a view of the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, taken on May 28 in Suez Governorate, Egypt. Photo by Yao Bing, Xinhua News Agency

"This project is the first overseas cast iron pipe production base for XinXing Cast Pipe's ductile iron pipe products. It will fill the gap in Egypt's ductile iron pipe industry, enhance Egypt's local pipe R&D and supply capabilities, and is expected to bring Egypt nearly US$200 million in foreign exchange earnings annually and provide more than 500 jobs for the local area." said Ma Ye, vice chairman of XinXing Cast Pipe (Egypt) Co., Ltd.

Similar scenes abound in the TEDA Cooperation Zone. Currently, the park has formed leading industrial clusters in new building materials, petroleum equipment, high and low voltage equipment, machinery manufacturing, textiles, chemicals, new energy, and white appliances.

With the joint efforts of China and Egypt, the "oasis" of the TEDA Cooperation Zone is practicing the concept of win-win cooperation, helping this ancient civilization to radiate new brilliance.

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