Industry minister tours 6th of October textile mills, calls sector a key target of Egypt's industrial strategy

Egypt's Minister of Industry, Khaled Hashem, toured factories in the 6th of October City industrial zone on 26 September, describing textiles and spinning as "a key target of Egypt's industrial strategy, given its strong potential to integrate into global supply chains," the Egyptian Gazette and Egypt Independent reported.

Hashem pointed to the sector's labour-intensive nature, relatively low energy needs and access to skilled workers as reasons for the priority.

Two exporting fabric mills

Naga Tex produces 1.44 million metres of fabric a year with 90% local content. It exports 60% of its output, worth about $2 million a year, to Switzerland, Turkey, Germany, Brazil and Italy.

Misr Al-Salam has an annual capacity of 5,000 tonnes of dyed and printed fabric with 80% local components. It exports 20% of its output, worth about $3 million, to Turkey and Morocco.

During the same tour the minister also opened a new production line at a Unilever personal-care plant, outside the textile sector.

What it means for Egyptian exporters

Garment exporters that can source fabric locally gain shorter lead times and an easier path to meeting the rules of origin in trade agreements. Mills like these, with high local content and existing buyers in Europe and Turkey, show that capacity exists. A minister publicly naming textiles as a strategic target also strengthens the sector's hand when it asks for export support, energy pricing and investment incentives. For foreign buyers, a deeper local fabric base makes Egypt a more complete sourcing option rather than just a cut-and-sew location.