Cairo: Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir engaged in a video conference with Thomas Sch¤fer, the CEO of Volkswagen Brand, to discuss the company's plans to manufacture cars in Egypt in the near future.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting focused on Volkswagen's strategy to broaden its presence in the Egyptian market through a multi-phase industrial plan. This plan begins with contract manufacturing at the Egyptian-German Automotive Company (EGA) and aims to establish a comprehensive automotive factory in the East Port Said industrial zone.

The talks also covered Volkswagen's roadmap for localizing automotive component manufacturing in Egypt. This includes enhancing the capabilities of local suppliers, setting up a research and development center dedicated to technology localization and knowledge transfer to Egyptian talent, and creating a technical training center to prepare specialists in electric vehicle maintenance and repair.

El-Wazir expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with Volkswagen on this significant industrial project, emphasizing Egypt's dedication to offering a stable and supportive investment climate for foreign investors. He assured Volkswagen of the country's readiness to provide all necessary support and address any challenges the company might encounter in setting up its operations in Egypt.

He highlighted the opportunities for Volkswagen to leverage Egypt's position as a gateway to Africa by integrating local and regional supply chains into its global supply system. This includes engaging with global component suppliers and capitalizing on incentives from the National Automotive Industry Development Program (AIDP).

On the other hand, Sch¤fer acknowledged Egypt's potential to become a key player in the automotive industry in Africa, citing its industrial infrastructure, strategic location, skilled workforce, and East Port Said's capability to offer a world-class industrial and logistical platform.

He emphasized that this collaboration marks a significant step toward a long-term partnership between Egypt and Volkswagen, aimed at promoting industrial localization, enhancing competitiveness, boosting exports, and integrating Egypt into global automotive value chains.