Cairo: Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem met with Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber and Mohamed El-Sweedy, Chairman of the Egyptian Federation of Industries, to discuss developing the Shaq El-Thoban industrial area and boosting the marble and granite sector. The meeting followed an extensive field visit to assess the challenges facing investors, factory owners, and workshop operators in the area.According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting was attended by Said Abaza, Head of the Marble and Granite Division; Nahed Youssef, Chairperson of the Industrial Development Authority; and senior officials from the Ministry of Industry. The discussions focused on key issues, including regularizing factory operations and improving basic infrastructure. The area suffers from shortages in essential services such as electricity, sewage, communications, roads, and drinking water, as well as challenges related to industrial licensing procedures.It was agreed to intensify coordination among executive bodies and rel evant authorities to implement urgent solutions within set timelines. The minister stressed that direct meetings with Shaq El-Thoban investors will be held in the coming period to encourage them to regularize their operations and take advantage of unprecedented facilitation in industrial licensing.He stressed the state's commitment to supporting serious investors and integrating all stakeholders into the formal system, while strictly enforcing the law against non-compliant parties to ensure orderly operations and achieve the objectives of the comprehensive development plan. Hashem said that the development of Shaq El-Thoban goes beyond infrastructure improvements to fostering responsible industrial practices among factory and workshop owners.This includes organized waste disposal, avoiding dumping on roads or open land, and adhering to occupational health and safety standards on-site, he further noted. He added that the ministry will continue to improve operational mechanisms to increase production effici ency, reduce losses, and explore the expansion of waste recycling facilities in cooperation with relevant authorities.These measures aim to create a safe and sustainable industrial environment, boost productivity, and enhance product quality, he said. Concluding the meeting, the minister reaffirmed the country's commitment to implementing a comprehensive plan to develop Shaq El-Thoban, support national industries, boost the competitiveness of Egyptian products, and ensure a safe and sustainable working environment. The ministry will continue to monitor the implementation of facilitation measures and regulatory procedures to ensure the initiative's success and achieve the strategic objectives of sustainable industrial development.