OPPO opens new manufacturing plant in Egypt under $50m investment push: Cabinet

Chinese smartphone maker OPPO opened a new manufacturing plant in Egypt’s 10th of Ramadan City on Thursday, marking a major step in the country’s push to localise electronics production and attract foreign investment, the Egyptian Cabinet said.

Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, who inaugurated the facility, said the project aligns with the presidential initiative Egypt Makes Electronics, which aims to make electronics manufacturing a key pillar of economic growth, increase exports, and reduce imports of electronic devices.

“I am proud of the Egyptian engineers, technicians, and workers who produce electronics with precision and quality that match the world’s best,” Madbouly said at the event, attended by Communications Minister Amr Talaat, Sharqiya Governor Hazem El-Ashmouny, and OPPO MEA’s CEO Lay Ren.

The factory, part of a $50 million investment plan by OPPO, spans 24,000 square metres and employs about 2,000 Egyptians, including engineers and technicians trained to international standards. Current production stands at 400,000 units a month — around 5 million annually — with a local value-added component of 42 per cent, the statement added.

Communications Minister Talaat said the project reflects growing confidence from global tech firms in Egypt’s investment climate, boosted by new governance systems for mobile device manufacturing. He noted that Egypt has so far attracted 15 international brands producing mobile phones and accessories with a combined annual capacity of 20 million units and investments totaling $200 million.

OPPO’s Lay Ren said the new plant demonstrates the company’s long-term commitment to Egypt and its role as a strategic manufacturing base for the region. The new facility not only underscores OPPO’s trust in Egypt’s potential but also serves as a platform for innovation, job creation, and regional growth, Ren said.

The factory currently operates 17 production lines, with plans to expand to 20 by the first quarter of 2026, raising monthly capacity to about 500,000 units. OPPO said it 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.

The project stems from a memorandum of understanding signed in 2022 between OPPO and Egypt’s Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) under the government’s electronics manufacturing initiative.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English