Mr. Waleid Gamal El-Dien, Chairman of the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), highlighted the zone’s strategic advantages and investment potential during his participation in the Egypt–Bahrain Business Forum, held in Cairo.
The high-profile event brought together senior officials, including Eng. Hassan El-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of Egypt; Mr. Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance; Ms. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Bahrain’s Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Economic Development Council; Mr. Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce; Mr. Hossam Heiba, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones; and Mr. Samir Nass, Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with numerous business leaders and investors from both countries.
Speaking at the main session titled “Investment Horizons and Growth Strategies”, Mr. Gamal El-Dien underscored SCZONE’s transformation into a fully integrated platform for investment, manufacturing, and logistics, strategically located on both banks of the Suez Canal. “SCZONE has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, with 311 projects across industrial, logistical, and service sectors contracted in the past 38 months, with a total value of around USD 10.2 billion,” he noted.
He explained that SCZONE’s development has followed a phased strategy since its establishment in 2015: beginning with infrastructure, moving to investor empowerment, and now focusing on the localization of targeted industries to maximize value-added production. To date, SCZONE has attracted investments from more than 20 countries, reflecting global confidence in its role as a hub for international cooperation and sustainable growth.
Mr. Gamal El-Dien added: “Today, SCZONE has become a world-class industrial and logistics hub, supported by six seaports and four major industrial zones operating at full capacity. With 21 targeted sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals, automotive, and railways to textiles and renewable energy, SCZONE offers extensive incentives including customs and tax exemptions, skilled labor availability, and fully digitalized one-stop-shop services.”
The Egypt–Bahrain Business Forum served as a platform to strengthen bilateral economic ties, featuring B2B meetings between Egyptian and Bahraini companies to explore joint ventures and investment integration. The event reflected both nations’ commitment to advancing sustainable development and deepening regional cooperation.
