Egypt’s Minister of Industry, Khaled Hashem, met with representatives of GILA Al Tawakol Electric, led by Chairperson Sherif Abdel Fattah, to review the company’s expansion plans in smart lighting and renewable energy manufacturing.
The meeting was attended by Mohamed Samy, Assistant Minister for Strategic Affairs; Hussein El Ghazawy, Advisor to the Minister for Energy Affairs; Mokhles Al Tawakol of Al Tawakol Group; and senior ministry officials.
Discussions highlighted progress at Egypt’s first smart lighting manufacturing facility, established through a partnership between Signify, the global lighting leader, and GILA Al Tawakol Electric. The $30m project will produce highly efficient lighting systems, beginning with 40% local content and targeting 80% in the future. Operations are scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of this year, with 60% of production earmarked for export to African and European markets. The factory is expected to generate around 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Hashem reaffirmed the Ministry’s support for industrial investments that drive technology transfer, deepen local manufacturing, and increase value added output. He stressed that renewable energy adoption in industry is now an economic necessity to reduce costs, optimize energy use, and strengthen competitiveness, while advancing Egypt’s transition to a green economy.
The minister also underscored the importance of expanding local content across GILA Al Tawakol’s product portfolio, reinforcing supply chains, and ensuring compliance with international quality standards. He urged closer cooperation with the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality to enhance product competitiveness in regional and global markets.
Hashem further outlined the Ministry’s Shams El Senaa (Industry Solar Initiative), which aims to install rooftop solar systems with a total capacity of 1,000 MW across 7,000 factories in its first phase. The initiative is expected to accelerate clean energy adoption, lower operating costs, and boost industrial competitiveness.
For his part, Sherif Abdel Fattah highlighted GILA Al Tawakol Electric’s more than 50 years of experience in Egypt and its strong industrial base, with facilities in 10th of Ramadan City and Obour City. He noted the company’s diverse portfolio, including medium and low voltage switchboards, metal products, cladding, cable trays, lighting systems, and integrated energy efficiency and digital transformation solutions.
