- October 2, 2023
- Posted by: Ahmed Abed
- Category: 2023, EN
Mr. Waleid Gamal El-Dien, Chairman of the General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), received a business delegation from Japanese companies working in the field of renewable energy, green fuel, and various industries headed by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), to participate in a meeting SCZONE organized on this promising sector. In the presence of representatives of the Egyptian-Japanese Business Council (EJBC), the Japan Organization for the Development of New Energy and Industrial Technology, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Japanese Ambassador in Cairo. In addition to the remarkable presence of companies that have signed framework agreements or MoUs with SCZONE to establish green fuel projects within the zone.
The meeting discussed joint cooperation between JETRO and SCZONE and ways to enhance investment in the industrial sectors targeted to be localized within SCZONE ports and industrial zones and attract Japanese investments to them. In addition to discussions on cooperation in green energy projects between both sides and supporting small and emerging projects. As well as introducing the Japanese business community to SCZONE’s success partners in the green fuel sector and the details of their planned projects in this field.
“SCZONE is looking forward to collaborating with Japanese companies in the green fuel sector and its feeding industries. SCZONE is making major efforts in the green fuel sector. We are working to activate the MoUs between SCZONE and global corporate consortia. We are also interested in green hydrogen feeding industries such as the desalination plant in Sokhna, the utility corridor linking the allocated lands for green hydrogen and Sokhna Port, in addition to the implementation of the liquid bulk berth in Sokhna Port in this context, as well as the readiness of the zone with integrated infrastructure and proximity to renewable energy sources.” SCZONE Chairman declared.
For his part, the Japanese delegation head, Mr. Kazuya Nakajo, Executive Vice President of JETRO, stated: “Egypt, which hosted the COP27 last November, has all the ingredients to promote the green transition with its renewable solar and wind energy sources, and the infrastructure that qualifies it to be a hub for renewable energy supply in North Africa. The Suez Canal Economic Zone’s plans for green hydrogen projects aim to make it a future export base for this vital product. We are proud of the presence of a group of Japanese companies that have investments in the fields of energy, renewables, green fuel, and related activities such as financing, insurance, maritime transport, logistics, and consulting. We affirm JETRO’s constant keenness to reinforce cooperation with SCZONE as an Egyptian institution that works to support investment in various sectors, especially the green fuel sector.”
During the meeting, representatives of TAQA Arabia, Globaleq Africa, Mediterranean Energy Partners, Scatec, Maersk, BP, Fortescue, Zero Waste, ACWA Power, Total Eren & Enara Group Consortium, and India’s Ocior Energy gave presentations on their projects to be established within SCZONE, including estimated investments, production capacity, job opportunities, and some other technical details.
This was followed by other presentations from representatives of the Japanese Business Delegation, which amounted to 24 companies and institutions working in various fields such as engineering industries, utilities, financing services, maritime transport, consulting, and some government organizations, where representatives of these institutions expressed their willingness to invest in SCZONE in these sectors and future bilateral cooperation.
After the meeting, the delegation visited the Egypt Hydrogen Plant, the first project in Africa to produce green fuel, which was inaugurated during the COP27 held in Egypt in November 2022, and then headed to Sokhna Port to inspect the works at the port’s berths.
