Japanese automotive parts leader Sumitomo Electric has launched a new €22 million factory in Egypt’s 10th of Ramadan City, reinforcing the country’s role as a global manufacturing hub for vehicle wiring systems. The facility was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, who praised the project as a milestone in Egypt’s industrial and export strategy.
Operated by Sumitomo’s local subsidiary SE Wiring Systems Egypt, the factory is among the largest of its kind globally and is set to produce exclusively for export markets. Once fully operational by 2027, the site is expected to provide 3,000 direct jobs and play a significant role in the automotive supply chains of international car makers including Toyota.
“This new facility is not just about production—it reflects Egypt’s evolution into a key player in the global automotive supply chain,” Prime Minister Madbouly said at the launch. “We are no longer simply importing vehicles; we are building the parts that move them.”
Spanning part of a 150,000-square-metre industrial complex, the plant also includes a research and development centre, solar-powered infrastructure, and a training academy capable of accommodating 600 vocational students daily. The Ministry of Education is collaborating with Sumitomo to upskill youth for technical jobs that meet global standards.
Sumitomo’s investment is part of a broader trend of Japanese industrial engagement in Egypt. The company already operates 14 factories across the country—in Port Said, 6th of October City, and 10th of Ramadan—employing over 12,000 Egyptians. According to company data, its Egypt operations generated €900 million in exports over the past five years, including €260 million in the last year alone.
Japan’s Ambassador to Egypt, Fumio Iwai, described the project as “a model for sustainable industrial cooperation,” adding that Japan sees Egypt as a stable and strategic partner in Africa and the Middle East.
An exclusive source close to the Ministry of Industry told Al-Eqtisadiah that Sumitomo is currently conducting feasibility studies for an electric vehicle components facility in Egypt—a move that could open the door to deeper integration into global EV supply chains in the coming years.
Also attending the event were Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir, top Sumitomo executives, and senior Egyptian officials. The launch signals not just a foreign investment success story, but a broader shift toward value-added manufacturing in Egypt’s evolving industrial landscape.
