PM tours factories manufacturing ultrasound machines, televisions and mobile screens
CAIRO - 19 JUNE 2025: Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly began Thursday his inspection tour of several factories in 6 of October City that manufacture ultrasound machines, televisions, and mobile phones.
As part of his tour, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, inspected the project to establish the first factory in Africa and the Middle East to manufacture ultrasound machines and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, located in 6th of October City.
This project is considered an important step towards strengthening Egypt's position as a regional center for medical technology.
This project is the result of a strategic partnership between GE Healthcare, a global leader in medical technology and digital solutions, and Medinova, a subsidiary of Al Safi Group. The goal is to develop an advanced facility in Egypt for the production of medical imaging devices, contributing to improving the quality of diagnostic healthcare and supporting the goals of Egypt's Vision 2030.
Upon his arrival at the factory site, the Prime Minister affirmed that the Egyptian state is taking serious steps toward localizing several important industries and deepening the industry, with the participation of the local and foreign private sector, which has become a strategic partner in various development projects implemented by the state.
There is also a strong trend toward localizing vital industries and strengthening international partnerships.
In this context, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly explained that he had met with the CEO of GE Healthcare at the end of last year to review the project to manufacture ultrasound devices in Egypt.
"As a government, we are confident that this will be a pioneering project in this field and will achieve the Egyptian state's goals in its plan to localize medical industries and devices," Madbouly said, emphasizing that the ongoing cooperation with GE Healthcare embodies an ambitious national vision aimed at advancing the healthcare system in Egypt.
For his part, the Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population praised the ongoing cooperation with the company, noting that localizing the medical device industry is a priority for the Ministry of Health. He expressed his appreciation for the company's choice of Egypt to localize the manufacture of ultrasound devices, in order to meet the needs of the Egyptian market and subsequently expand and export, particularly to Africa.
In this context, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar explained that the project to establish the first factory in Egypt and the Middle East to manufacture ultrasound devices "is a milestone in the history of manufacturing."
The National Medical Center will directly contribute to supporting the healthcare sector's infrastructure, improving the quality of diagnostic services, and reducing reliance on imports. This will support market stability and provide advanced healthcare solutions for Egyptian citizens.
During the tour, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, reviewed the project's advantages, which go beyond manufacturing, but also include the transfer and localization of technology and the training of Egyptian cadres. This will enhance human resource efficiency and strengthen local capabilities to transform Egypt into a regional center for the manufacture of advanced medical devices. He emphasized the Ministry of Health's continued support for these efforts, in coordination with various ministries and institutions, to achieve health, economic, and social development goals.
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar added that this initiative comes within the framework of an integrated strategy adopted by the Ministry of Health and Population, in cooperation with the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical Supply and Supply, and the Medical Technology Department, and with the participation of relevant state authorities. This aims to support the local pharmaceutical and medical equipment industries, in line with the goals of Egypt Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy, develop strategic industries, and provide new job opportunities for Egyptian youth, while enhancing the country's export capacity to regional markets, particularly African markets.
At the same time, The Deputy Prime Minister indicated that the establishment of the factory is a "strategic step toward establishing the foundations for a medical future whose components are manufactured by Egyptian hands. It opens broad horizons for a national healthcare system that is competitive, resilient in the face of challenges, and efficient in meeting the needs of Egyptian citizens."
For his part, Mark Stoesz, President Enterprise Solutions and Partnerships International Markets at GE Healthcare, emphasized that "there are several motivations that encouraged us as a manufacturing company to establish operations in Egypt, most notably the Egyptian government's growing interest in healthcare, a focus that has not wavered or diminished despite the economic challenges facing the Egyptian government."
He added that Egypt's large market, home to approximately 110 million citizens, also contributes to making Egypt a hub for entry into the African market.
During his tour of the project, the Prime Minister listened to an explanation from Eng. Mohamed Haroun, General Manager of GE Healthcare Africa, who indicated that the new facility will localize the manufacturing and assembly of ultrasound and MRI systems to meet the growing demand in both the public and private sectors.
By localizing these vital industries, the initiative contributes to achieving several pillars of Egypt's Vision 2030, including enhancing economic diversification, creating new job opportunities, and achieving self-sufficiency in medical technology.
He added: "The factory will also enable the export of devices to regional markets, particularly in Africa, strengthening Egypt's role as a regional hub for innovation and production in the healthcare sector."
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly also visited the site of a project to manufacture television and phone screens at the Safi Group factory in 6 of October city. He viewed the board production line, how they are manufactured, and how they are tested before moving on to the next production stage to ensure their safety.
He then moved on to learn about the router production line, and then went to see the TV screen assembly stage.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister inquired about the percentage of local components, with the factory manager indicating that a large percentage of local components are relied upon in manufacturing, and there is a trend towards increasing this percentage in the coming stages.
Engineer Safi Wahba, Founder and Chairman of Al Safi Investment Group, indicated that the total area of the Al Safi factory (which includes production lines for ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging devices, in addition to production lines for communications devices, mobile phones, television screens, and others) is 25,000 square meters. The direct workforce is 2,000, while the indirect workforce is 1,000, with 25 production lines. The production capacity of the ultrasound factory is approximately 2,500 devices annually, while the production capacity of the MRI factory ranges between 40 and 50 devices annually.
During his tour of the project, the Prime Minister learned about the various stages of the manufacturing plan, which include raw material inspection, device assembly points, software development, and manufacturing technology.
Meanwhile, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar noted that the devices to be manufactured in this project are the same types of devices used in hospitals, whose equipment is being modernized and upgraded. Similar devices will also be used in the presidential "Decent Life" initiative to develop rural Egyptian villages, which will significantly reduce the import bill.
Before concluding his inspection tour of the project, the Prime Minister reiterated his government's willingness to provide the company with all necessary support and facilities, encouraging it to explore manufacturing more medical devices beyond ultrasound machines.
The Prime Minister was accompanied during his inspection tour of the project site by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population; Lieutenant General Kamel El Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport; Eng. Adel El Naggar, Governor of Giza; Dr. Ali El Ghamrawy, Head of the Egyptian Drug Authority; and Dr. Hisham Steit, Head of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical Supply, and Medical Technology Management. The event was welcomed by Mark Stoesz, President Enterprise Solutions and Partnerships International Markets at GE Healthcare; Eng. Safi Wahba, Founder and Chairman of Al Safi Group Investment; Dr. Hazem El Far, Chairman of Medinova, a subsidiary of Al Safi Group; Eng. Mohamed Haroun, General Manager of GE Healthcare Africa; Eng. Diaa Shaarawy, Chief Operating Officer of Al Safi Group; Eng. Islam Adel, General Manager of the Plant; and Maxime Auger, General Manager of the Ultrasound Division.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt adopts balanced fiscal policies to boost economic performance: Finance Minister - Economy
Egypt's Minister of Finance, Ahmed Kouchouk, affirmed that the government is doubling its efforts in the upcoming phase to enhance economic performance through balanced fiscal policies. Speaking during an extended dialogue with international investors on Thursday at the British-Egyptian Business Association (BEBA) in London, Kouchouk emphasised that Egypt is not competing with any specific country. Instead, the government aims to boost the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy, promote national development, and foster sustainable economic growth. He urged both local and international investors to capitalise on the economic opportunities available in Egypt fully, positioning the country as a strategic gateway to numerous regional and global markets. Kouchouk noted that Egypt has established a competitive growth model underpinned by a stable and coherent policy framework, laying a strong foundation for attracting new investments, localising manufacturing, and advancing technological development. The minister reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to improving the business climate through clear and tangible reforms. He emphasised that the government functions as a unified body with a shared vision to deliver a meaningful economic transformation, bolster investor confidence, and safeguard financial and economic stability. These efforts, he added, include building sustainable, integrated policies that sustain the momentum of recent positive economic developments. During the meeting, Kouchouk outlined ongoing tax and customs reforms aimed at simplifying procedures, lowering costs, and shortening customs clearance times to draw further investment. The government is also conducting a comprehensive review of taxpayer rights to strengthen them through legislative and regulatory changes to ensure greater tax fairness in the near future. Kouchouk revealed that Egypt is working with a range of international partners and expert institutions to improve investor services and stimulate higher levels of investment inflows. He emphasised that all public financial allocations must yield tangible economic benefits for investors, citizens, and the broader economy. To this end, allocations for economic activities have been doubled, with EGP 45 billion earmarked in the current budget to support exports. He emphasised that economic reform is not about achieving short-term milestones, but about cultivating long-term trust, establishing predictable policy foundations, and ensuring adaptability in the face of change. Kouchouk reported that Egypt's financial performance has steadily improved, with a positive outlook for the future. Despite global economic headwinds, Egypt posted strong results in the last fiscal year, with the private sector playing a pivotal role in driving growth. Private investment rose by 77 percent, while non-oil exports increased by 33 percent—reflecting growing confidence in the Egyptian economy and its ongoing reform agenda. The minister emphasised that private sector expansion creates a conducive environment for attracting foreign direct investment, which in turn has a positive impact on tax revenues. In the past fiscal year, Egypt's tax revenues increased by 35 percent without the imposition of any new burdens, thanks to the expansion of the taxpayer base and the resolution of longstanding disputes. He explained that the government has focused on overhauling the tax system through three major reforms: the introduction of a unified tax regime for small and medium-sized enterprises, the facilitation of voluntary dispute settlements, and the option to resubmit or amend previous tax filings without penalty. As a result, the ministry received around half a million new or revised tax declarations, and the private sector voluntarily contributed an additional EGP 60 billion in taxes. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt Assistant FM holds high-level meeting on political-trade ties with Canada - Foreign Affairs
Assistant Foreign Minister for US Affairs Sameh Aboul-Enein convened a high-level coordination meeting on Friday with members of the Egyptian-Canadian Business Council to follow up on the outcomes of the political and trade consultation round held in April. The meeting, which included senior officials from key ministries and national bodies as well as several Egyptian parliamentarians, focused on reviewing the progress of joint projects with Canada. Participants discussed frameworks designed to ensure continuity in building on the positive outcomes of the Egyptian delegation's recent visit to Canada, which included representatives from the Ministries of Investment and Foreign Trade, Petroleum and Mineral Resources, as well as business leaders and parliamentarians. The meeting also highlighted the need to sustain momentum in supporting Egypt's national strategy to boost investment opportunities, considering the economic dimension as a top priority of Egypt's foreign policy, particularly in terms of attracting foreign investments and increasing trade volume. The participants reviewed key investment opportunities in the Egyptian market for Canadian companies and explored ways to attract Canadian capital to the market. They emphasised Egypt's strategic potential to serve as a gateway for Canadian businesses into African and European markets, primarily through localised production in vital sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, and energy. During the meeting, Aboul-Enein underscored the importance of continuously monitoring the outcomes of the consultations to ensure effective implementation of agreed-upon measures. He also highlighted the progress already achieved and stressed the need to maintain the same pace of work to enhance investment prospects, increase trade exchanges, and strengthen bilateral relations. In 2024, Egypt exported goods worth $197 million to Canada, while imports from Canada totalled $369 million, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS). During the 2023/2024 fiscal year, Egyptian investments in Canada reached $85.3 million. Meanwhile, Canadian foreign direct investments in Egypt amounted to $122.5 million. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt FM holds talks with UK, Iran, and IAEA on Tehran nuclear programme - Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty discussed ways to revive talks on Tehran's nuclear programme in separate phone calls on Friday with his British counterpart, David Lammy, his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi. Abdelatty explored ways to resume negotiations between Iran, the IAEA, and the E3 group, which comprises the UK, France, and Germany. These negotiations would help restore diplomatic momentum and address concerns related to Iran's nuclear programme, especially with the anticipated activation of the UN sanctions mechanism on Iran by the end of August, as recently announced by the E3 group. During the calls, Abdelatty emphasised the need to sustain the Iran-Israel ceasefire, ensure that hostilities do not resume, and support a political and peaceful path forward. According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty's intensive communications also addressed the ongoing de-escalation efforts to reduce regional tensions. During his call with his British counterpart, the Egyptian Foreign Minister addressed ways to develop and strengthen bilateral ties, particularly in trade, investment, and tourism. On the other hand, Abdelatty and the IAEA chief focused on enhancing cooperation between Egypt and the agency in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Throughout April and May, the US and Iran held several rounds of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme before the Israeli strikes on Iran began in June. On 2 July, Araghchi, whose country insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, said in TV remarks that 'the doors of diplomacy will never slam shut.' Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA on the same day. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
