Cairo: Walid Gamal El-Din, Chairman of the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), signed a significant project contract with China National Chemical Engineering Company (CNCEC) at the Authority's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the project will be established over 100,000 square meters in the Sokhna Industrial Zone, with a total investment of USD 34 million. The initiative aims to produce facilities, production lines, equipment, and pipelines for soda ash (sodium carbonate) production plants.

The project will manufacture essential products including steel structures, prefabricated carbon steel and stainless-steel piping products, and standard non-custom equipment. It has a designed production capacity of 20,000 tons annually for steel structures and 400,000 diameter-inches annually for prefabricated pipes.

The agreement marks the first of two integrated projects, with the second planned for Sokhna Port. This second phase will involve an estimated investment of USD 250 million, covering 200,000 square meters with a quay length that ranges from 350 to 400 meters, expandable as needed. This project is targeted at manufacturing equipment for the chemical and petrochemical sectors, including carbon steel, low-alloy steel, stainless steel, clad plates, and a variety of vessels.

The two projects are set to be logistically integrated between the industrial zone and the port, facilitating the movement and entry of components and products to and from manufacturing facilities. The second project at Sokhna Port is scheduled for launch during the current year.

At the signing ceremony, Walid Gamal El-Din emphasized that the soda ash production project aligns with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's directives to localize this strategic industry. Soda ash is crucial for a variety of industries, including chemical and petrochemical sectors, petroleum refining, and tire manufacturing. The Authority plans to offer full support and incentives for the projects, leveraging the integration between the Sokhna Industrial Zone and Sokhna Port and capitalizing on international and free trade agreements to access regional and global markets.

He further noted that the readiness of utilities and infrastructure at SCZONE's ports and industrial zones has positioned the Authority as a key platform for attracting global investments in targeted sectors.