Cairo: Chinese smartphone maker OPPO has inaugurated a new manufacturing plant in Egypt's 10th of Ramadan City, a significant move in the country's efforts to localize electronics production and attract foreign investment. The Egyptian Cabinet announced the opening of the facility, which marks an important milestone in this strategic initiative.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, who led the inauguration, emphasized that the project aligns with the presidential initiative, Egypt Makes Electronics. This initiative aims to establish electronics manufacturing as a key element of economic growth, enhance export capabilities, and reduce the reliance on imported electronic devices. During the event, which saw attendance from Communications Minister Amr Talaat, Sharqiya Governor Hazem El-Ashmouny, and OPPO MEA's CEO Lay Ren, Madbouly expressed pride in Egyptian engineers and workers for producing electronics with precision comparable to global standards.
The factory, part of a $50 million investment by OPPO, covers 24,000 square meters and employs approximately 2,000 Egyptians. These employees, including engineers and technicians, have been trained to meet international standards. Current production levels reach 400,000 units monthly, translating to about 5 million units annually, with a local value-added component of 42 percent, as stated by the Cabinet.
Communications Minister Talaat highlighted the growing confidence from international tech firms in Egypt's investment environment, enhanced by new governance systems for mobile device manufacturing. He noted that 15 international brands have already been attracted to Egypt, producing mobile phones and accessories with a combined annual capacity of 20 million units and total investments of $200 million.
OPPO's CEO for the Middle East and Africa, Lay Ren, stated that the new plant underscores the company's long-term commitment to Egypt and its potential as a strategic manufacturing hub for the region. The facility serves as a platform for innovation, job creation, and regional growth. Currently operating 17 production lines, OPPO plans to expand to 20 lines by the first quarter of 2026, increasing the monthly capacity to about 500,000 units. The company also intends to start exporting Egypt-made smartphones to Arab markets by the end of next year and will later add production lines for smartwatches, fitness bands, and wireless earbuds.
This project is the result of a memorandum of understanding signed in 2022 between OPPO and Egypt's Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) as part of the government's electronics manufacturing initiative.