The Mapei Group, world leader in the production of chemical products for the building industry, strengthens its industrial presence in North Africa, with the opening of a new production plant in Egypt, in the 10th of Ramadan City, north-west of Cairo.

This new investment confirms Mapei's long-term vision: to be a key player in the global development of the construction industry, focusing on innovation, quality, durability and local presence.

With a total surface area of 30,000 square metres, the new factory will produce Mapei’s main products for the local market, from adhesives for installing ceramics to mortars, from concrete admixtures to grinding aids for cement production. It will be the Group's second production plant in Egypt after Vinavil’s polymer plant in Suez, which began operating in 2002 and employes around 150 people.

"The opening of the Mapei factory in Egypt", said the Italian Ambassador in Cairo, Michele Quaroni, speaking at the inauguration event, "is a further step in strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations between Italy and Egypt and demonstrates the strong interest of Italian companies in investing in this country in strategic sectors for Italian manufacturing. Egypt is in fact a crucial partner for us due to its geographical position, its economic, political and demographic weight in the Euro-Mediterranean region and for the opening it favours towards the entire African market. In line with the spirit of the Mattei Plan for Africa, the productive investments, the transfer of technology and know-how, and the training activities that will be carried out in Egypt by Mapei, are extremely favourably received by the Italian Government and the Egyptian Authorities, as they will make a very important contribution to the economic growth of this country and to our bilateral relationship".

"Egypt today represents a very promising market for the global construction industry," says Veronica Squinzi, CEO of Mapei. "With over 100 million inhabitants and a constant demographic growth, the country is experiencing a growing demand for residential construction, supported by strong government investment plans in infrastructure, hospitality and large-scale transport. The presence of two production sites in the area, Mapei and Vinavil, will strengthen the Group's competitiveness, while promoting local production capacities, creating job opportunities and facilitating technology transfer".

“In addition to a local construction market expected to grow by 10 per cent – she adds, - the proactive policies promoted by the Ministry of Investment through the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI),  focused on industrialisation and infrastructure development, have created a favourable environment for foreign direct investment, generating the need for advanced solutions such as fibre-reinforced concrete flooring or polyurethane solutions for the growing chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries".

"The new plant, designed to produce a wide range of products using cutting-edge technology," adds Marco Squinzi, CEO of Mapei, "is located in a strategic position near major logistic hubs. Its proximity to the Cairo-Suez and Cairo-Ain Sokhna corridor will allow Mapei to distribute its products efficiently both within Egypt and in the nearby markets of North Africa and the Middle East. It will also be a gateway to sub-Saharan Africa, thanks to the existing trade agreements and the growing economic integration among African nations".

“Designed to meet the needs of the local construction industry, guaranteeing proximity, faster delivery times and tailor-made technical support - he adds, - the plant also has a quality control laboratory and a space for Mapei Academy training programmes, Mapei's training offer that develops through free events aimed at professionals and companies, contributing to the development of local skills. As a regional hub, designed to be scalable, it will allow Mapei to increase production and storage capacity according to demand and to expand the offer with additional production lines, some of which are already under study”.

Mapei Egypt, which today has 70 employees, was founded in 2017 in New Cairo as a commercial presidium in the country, where the Group has been present since 2002 through its subsidiary Vinavil. Over the years, Mapei solutions have contributed to some of Egypt's most important infrastructure and urban development projects, such as the Cairo Metro Line 4, the Alamein Towers, the Government District and the Central Business District (CBD) of the New Administrative Capital.

Today, the Mapei Group generates a turnover of 60 million Euros in Egypt and employs 220 people, contributing to the development of the local economy and the local construction market.