Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt invites Japan to establish industrial zone for automotive and water desalination industries
Yokohama – Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Hiromasa Nakano, on the sidelines of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama. Representing President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Madbouly called for the establishment of a Japanese industrial zone in Egypt to attract investments in automotive manufacturing and seawater desalination, aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The meeting, attended by Egypt’s Ambassador to Japan, Mohamed Abu Bakr, highlighted the growing partnership between Egypt and Japan, particularly in infrastructure development. Nakano expressed appreciation for Egypt’s warm reception and praised the participation of Japanese companies in Egypt’s infrastructure renaissance. He voiced enthusiasm for deepening ties across various sectors.
Madbouly emphasized the importance of infrastructure as a priority for Egypt’s national projects, citing past collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in developing Cairo’s transportation plans during his tenure at the Ministry of Housing. He highlighted ongoing cooperation with Japan on the fourth line of the Cairo Metro and noted Egypt’s advancements in roads, water, telecommunications, and the development of 24 new cities, including the New Administrative Capital and New Alamein.
The Egyptian Prime Minister expressed hope for expanding collaboration with Japanese institutions in African countries through tripartite cooperation mechanisms. He invited Japan to establish an industrial zone in Egypt, noting that Japan could leverage Egypt’s membership in various trade agreements and blocs.
Madbouly specifically highlighted Egypt’s interest in attracting industries such as automotive manufacturing and water desalination, given the country’s pressing need for additional water resources. He also underscored Egypt’s ambition to localize water desalination technology and expand green energy production, inviting Nakano to visit Egypt with Japanese companies to explore these opportunities.
In response, Nakano welcomed Egypt’s eagerness to collaborate and committed to following up on the proposed initiatives within his ministry’s purview, while also discussing other sectors with relevant Japanese authorities. He noted Japan’s experience in cooperating with multiple countries on water desalination and expressed interest in partnering with Egypt in this field.
Nakano also voiced enthusiasm for signing a memorandum of understanding to bolster joint cooperation and invited Egypt to participate in the International Horticultural Expo in Yokohama in 2027.
Madbouly further expressed Egypt’s aspiration to host the upcoming Japan-Egypt Dialogue for Africa (JEDA) conference, reinforcing Egypt’s commitment to deepening economic and developmental ties with Japan. The discussions at TICAD 9 underscore Egypt’s strategic efforts to enhance its global partnerships and drive sustainable development.