GAFI to establish 12 new investment zones: Min.

The General Authority for Investment & Free Zones (GAFI) is currently establishing 12 new investment zones, including four in Cairo, two in Qalyubia, and one in each of Sharkia, Alexandria, Fayoum, Giza, Dakhalia and Damietta, Minister of Investment Sahar Nasr said.

Nasr added that these zones will include projects in the fields of logistics, nano and bio-technology, higher education, scientific research, and small and medium enterprises, in addition to crafts and furniture.

“They will provide around 208,000 job opportunities and will attract investments worth LE 78 billion,” the minister stated.

Moreover, GAFI targets to establish six investment zones during the coming years in Suez, Qalyubia, Aswan, Luxor, and Cairo, with investments of LE 70 billion, according to Nasr.

She noted that GAFI has established five investment zones in Giza and Sharkia, including 259 projects with investments worth LE 11 billion and around 59,000 workers.

This came during the meeting of GAFI’s board of directors, headed by the minister of investment, where they discussed developing built zones and establishing new ones including zones at Benha, Mit Ghamr in Cairo and el-Saaf in Giza.

Benha’s investment zone includes agricultural and food industries projects, a branch of the investors’ service center, an entrepreneurship center, and a rural center for women and exhibitions. It will provide 3,500 job opportunities.

Moreover, el-Saaf’s investment zone includes services, crafts, trade, and industry projects, in addition to an investors’ center, an entrepreneurship center, conference halls, and banks’ branches. It will provide 3,500 job opportunities.

Mit Ghamr’s investment zone will comprise mining industries’ projects, an entrepreneurship center and exhibitions, 95 manufacturing workshops, and six treatment and painting workshops. It’s expected to provide 2,000 jobs