Egypt, S. Arabia discuss expanding construction cooperation

Egypt’s Minister of Housing Sherif El-Sherbiny met with a high-level Saudi delegation to discuss strengthening cooperation in the construction sector and facilitating the entry of Egyptian firms into the Saudi market.

The delegation included representatives from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of Investment, and the Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA), as per a Cabinet statement on Tuesday.

El-Sherbiny expressed Egypt’s appreciation for the strong ties between the two countries and affirmed the government’s commitment to deepening collaboration across shared priorities, the statement added.

He emphasised Egypt’s support for Saudi companies operating or seeking to invest in Egypt and pledged to facilitate access for Egyptian construction companies to Saudi Arabia’s real estate development sector.

Mohamed Sami, head of the Egyptian Federation for Construction and Building Contractors, praised the minister’s support and noted progress in easing entry procedures for Egyptian firms into the Saudi market. He added that the Saudi delegation’s visit to Egypt has made it easier for Egyptian contracting companies to work in the Saudi market, creating more opportunities for them to take on development projects in KSA.

The Saudi delegation is committed to collaborating with the federation and emphasised the importance of working together with various Saudi ministries and authorities. They highlighted the strong bilateral relations between the two countries. They noted the ongoing participation of Egyptian firms in major Saudi projects and expressed a desire to expand this presence, citing Egypt’s strong construction expertise, according to the statement.

The Federation’s members proposed the creation of joint mechanisms and partnerships with Saudi companies to explore opportunities in new markets, building on the success of existing Egyptian investments in Saudi Arabia.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
Subediting: M. S. Salama