From a Barren Desert to an Industrial Cluster: China–Egypt Economic and Trade Cooperation Has Built a High-Quality “Model Project”

Source: People’s Daily (September 3, 2026, Page 03)

Reporters: Li Xiao, Zhou Yan, Dai Kairan

On the occasion of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Egypt, People’s Daily spotlighted the TEDA Cooperation Zone in a report titled “From Barren Desert to Industrial Cluster: China–Egypt Economic and Trade Cooperation Has Built a High-Quality ‘Model’.” The article notes that the TEDA Cooperation Zone has become a premier model for China–Egypt economic and trade collaboration, spurring the expansion of Egypt’s industrial chains and the development of local talent. The full text follows:

In the Egyptian Red Sea city of Suez, within the Sino-Egyptian Teda Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, towering, spacious workshops and factory buildings stretch seamlessly from one end to the other, while rows of date palm trees flourish in lush greenery.

“It’s hard to imagine that just over a decade ago, this was still a barren desert,” said Nahla Emad, CEO of the Teda Egypt Development Company. Under the strategic guidance of the heads of state of Egypt and China and with the support of both governments, the cooperation zone has grown into an important platform for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

“The cooperation zone has become more dynamic.”

With more than 200 resident enterprises, over US$4.7 billion in attracted investment, and sales exceeding US$7.3 billion, a set of figures displayed in the Cooperation Zone’s Investment Service Center building underscores the park’s remarkable achievements over the years.

In the mid-1990s, the Egyptian side, impressed by the rapid development of China’s development zones, sought Chinese assistance in establishing a similar zone in Egypt. In 1998, the State Council designated the Tianjin Economic‑Technological Development Area to undertake this project. Beginning in 2008, the construction of the cooperation zone was spearheaded by Sino‑African Teda Investment Co., Ltd., a joint venture established by Tianjin TEDA Investment Holding Co., Ltd. and the China‑Africa Development Fund.

In January 2016, during his visit to Egypt, President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi jointly unveiled the second phase of the cooperation zone, marking the official launch of an accelerated development trajectory for this thriving industrial hub.

“More than a decade has passed, and the cooperation zone has become far more dynamic. From just two or three enterprises at the outset to today’s industrial clustering, I feel deeply proud of the zone’s development,” said Emad. He added that China’s vision and practical experience in developing industrial parks have provided valuable lessons for Egypt as it advances industrialization, “which is a vivid testament to the continued deepening of Egypt–China relations and the high level of mutual trust and cooperation between our two governments.”

“The park’s industrial agglomeration effect is steadily becoming evident, and it has emerged as a key platform for industrial cooperation in Egypt,” said Cao Hui, Executive Director of the Teda Egypt Industrial Zone Development Company. Currently, the park has established a “1+8” industrial framework—centered on bonded logistics and encompassing sectors such as new‑type building materials, oilfield equipment, high‑ and low‑voltage apparatus, mechanical manufacturing, textiles, chemicals, new energy, and white goods.

“In 2024, we hosted more than 300 business delegations; by 2025, that number had surged to over 500. Since the beginning of this year, we have received a steady stream of inquiries by phone and in writing, requests for site visits, and expressions of intent to explore cooperation,” said Wena, Managing Director of the Teda Egypt Industrial Zone Development Company. “From regional enterprises to multinational corporations, the industrial zone is attracting ever‑wider attention.”

The cooperation zone continues to expand its development space, optimize its industrial layout, and enhance its service capabilities. According to Cao Hui, the 2.86-square-kilometer extension area has entered the development phase, with the park focusing on sectors such as new energy, new materials, automobiles and auto parts, and fine chemicals. At the same time, it is advancing digitalization and low-carbon initiatives to provide enterprises with more comprehensive support services.

“I want to pass this skill on.”

In the temperature- and humidity-controlled production workshop, pristine white glass fiber yarns swiftly shuttle between winding machines, precisely coiled and packaged with the assistance of robotic arms; meanwhile, in the central control room, operators simply click a mouse to gain an instant overview of key production processes such as kiln firing and raw material feeding, while real-time footage from inside the kiln is displayed clearly on screens. Leveraging automation and intelligent technologies, the factory of Jushi Egypt Glass Fiber Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Jushi Egypt”) achieves per‑employee productivity that surpasses the industry average.

Jushi Egypt was among the earliest companies to establish a presence in the cooperation zone, introducing a complete suite of glass fiber production technologies with proprietary intellectual property rights to Egypt. As a result, Egypt—once not a major producer of glass fiber—has risen to become the world’s fourth-largest glass fiber manufacturer. The company has also spurred the development of local upstream and downstream industries, including mineral raw materials and packaging materials; currently, 95% of its raw materials are sourced within Egypt.

“Our workforce is more than 98% local, and our mid-level management is 76% local, making us one of the Chinese enterprises in Egypt with the highest rate of employee localization,” said Ahmed Soliman, Deputy General Manager of Jushi Egypt. He joined Jushi Egypt in 2012 as an entry-level process technician in the roving workshop and, through steady dedication to honing his expertise, has risen to become a key member of the team. “I am grateful for the training provided by the Chinese company and for my Chinese colleagues, who have shared their knowledge with me wholeheartedly,” Soliman added.

The Egyptian workforce at Xidian–EGEMAC High-Voltage Electrical Co., Ltd., a joint venture between China XD Group and its Egyptian partner, accounts for more than 97 percent. Over the years, the company has trained and supplied Egypt with a substantial pool of electrical engineering talent, and Mustafa Mohamed is one of them. In 2020, Mohamed joined the transformer assembly workshop as an ordinary technician, initially struggling even to decipher assembly blueprints. “My Chinese mentors would draw me hand‑detailed diagrams and walk me through each step of the process,” he recalls. During that period, he spent his days immersed in hands‑on training in the workshop and studied technical manuals late into the night. Within four to five years, Mohamed had risen to become a key technical figure in the workshop and independently led a team to complete the on‑site installation and commissioning of a major substation project undertaken by the company. “When the equipment was successfully energized,” Mohamed says, “my Chinese mentors were even more thrilled than I was—after all, their apprentice had finally grown capable of handling responsibilities on his own.”

Today, Muhammad serves as the supervisor of the transformer workshop, overseeing more than a dozen local workers and mentoring two apprentices of his own. “I want to pass on this skill so that more young Egyptians can change their destinies through hard work,” he said.

“Enhanced Egypt’s industrial capabilities”

“My Chinese name is Xiaohai, and I studied Chinese diligently throughout my university years. My Chinese colleagues are not only dedicated to their work but also warm and friendly. Whenever I have questions I don’t understand, they always take the time to explain them to me carefully, which has helped me improve rapidly,” said Xiaohai, a local technician at Xinxing Cast Pipe (Egypt) Co., Ltd. His personal journey mirrors the rapid growth of this young enterprise within the cooperation zone.

The Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipe Project in Egypt covers an area of 270,500 square meters and has an annual production capacity of 250,000 tons of ductile iron pipes. According to Wang Jinlong, a director at Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipe (Egypt) Co., Ltd., the project was signed in March 2024 and its groundbreaking ceremony held in April, with formal commissioning scheduled for May 2025—less than a year and a half from contract signing to start-up. Following commissioning, the products quickly gained market traction, and the company has successively established export partnerships with enterprises in Kuwait, Iraq, Tunisia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.

The Egypt Daily News commented that the cooperation zone, located at the junction of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, is an ideal production base for markets in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. “The commissioning of Egypt’s emerging cast-iron pipe project has not only bolstered the country’s industrial capacity but has also strengthened Egypt’s position as a regional trade hub.”

The establishment and development of the fiberglass industry has enabled Egypt to boast the largest fiberglass production base on the African continent; the first high-voltage transmission and transformation equipment plant has risen from the ground, marking the first time that critical equipment has been locally manufactured; and the inaugural smart dishwasher production line has been successfully commissioned, bringing “Made in Egypt” smart home appliances to market. Within the cooperation zone, one enterprise after another has taken root, grown, and expanded, injecting vigorous momentum into the park while driving the continuous extension of Egypt’s domestic industrial chain and the steady enhancement of its manufacturing capabilities.

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