Mostafa Sheikhoun, Chairperson of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), received a high-level trade delegation from China’s Shaanxi Province, led by Jia Chenglan, Chairperson of the Shaanxi Sub-Council of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), to explore investment opportunities in SCZONE’s priority sectors for industrial localisation, particularly clean energy and automotive manufacturing.
The meeting was coordinated by the Federation of African Chambers in Egypt and attended by several senior SCZONE executives. The Chinese delegation also included representatives of provincial government bodies, senior banking executives and representatives of major companies operating in the energy, manufacturing, investment and logistics sectors.
At the beginning of the meeting, Sheikhoun stressed that SCZONE looks forward to working with Shaanxi’s business community, particularly in clean energy and heavy industries, where the province has considerable expertise, as well as advanced technology, electronics, automotive manufacturing and logistics. He highlighted the strategic partnership between Egypt and China, which covers numerous fields.
He explained that SCZONE has a strong track record of successful Chinese investments, particularly in the TEDA industrial zone and, more recently, the West Qantara Industrial Zone, as well as Sokhna Port.
Sheikhoun also emphasised that SCZONE’s direct and indirect investment incentives, extensive availability of utilities and infrastructure, skilled technical workforce, and strategic location at the crossroads of global trade routes, supported by international free trade agreements, provide competitive advantages over comparable economic zones.
These advantages, he said, support the success of projects established within SCZONE, help boost Egyptian exports to international markets and promote industrial localisation across various sectors.
The SCZONE Chairperson stressed that the visit coincided with the positive response to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Cairo and the signing of several memoranda of understanding with SCZONE.
He said these developments reflect the depth of bilateral relations and the comprehensive strategic partnership between Egypt and China, demonstrating both countries’ commitment to advancing economic development and expanding opportunities for joint investment across key sectors.
For her part, Jia Chenglan, Chairperson of the CCPIT Shaanxi Sub-Council, expressed her pleasure at visiting SCZONE and gaining first-hand knowledge of its investment advantages and opportunities across several sectors in which companies from Shaanxi Province have extensive experience.
She stressed that working with SCZONE represents a significant step forward for companies, as it provides investors with extensive access to global markets.
Jia invited SCZONE representatives to visit Shaanxi Province and explore industrial and logistics activities that could be attracted to the economic zone.
She noted that companies based in Shaanxi make a substantial contribution to China’s industrial gross domestic product, reflecting their strong capabilities and leadership across numerous manufacturing and logistics sectors.