By Mahmoud Hammad
Sinai factory works regularly and exports to America, England and Italy
The new investment law will eliminate bureaucracy
Hamdi Sabri, Chairman of the board of directors of the Egyptian Company for refining salt, said that the company’s factory in north Sinai, operates regularly during the current period and its products are exported to America, England and Italy. He added that a new factory for refining salt will be established. It will be established in the industrial area, Tenth of Ramadan City, and it will provide many job opportunities, and 80% of its production will be exported to Greece, Russia and the Arab Gulf states. In this regard, machines and equipment will be imported from India for the production of pure high quality salt by means of evaporation purity up to 100% with a total of 150 thousand tons per year that will be exported.
Hamdi expects that bureaucracy will vanish with the implementation of the new investment law, as well as the poor performance of some of the staff at the Industrial Development Authority, which resulted in paying USD 55,000 fine to foreign companies.
Can you tell us about the Egyptian Company for refining salt?
The company was founded in 2000 and turned into a joint stock company in collabouration with other capitals as well as with specialists in the areas of management and salt production.
Please tell us about the company’s factories
There is a factory in north Sinai with a capacity of 150 thousand tons per year, it operates regularly during the current period. Its products are exported to America, England and Italy, along with Siwa factory with a capacity of 300 thousand tons annually, and there are salt washing production lines in al-Arish, Damietta and Siwa.
Are there new factories or new expasions for the company?
Yes, there is a factory for salt refining in the industrial zone, Tenth of Ramadan City, it will provide many job opportunities, and 80% of its production is excpectded to be exported to Greece, Russia and the Arab Gulf states. In this regard, machines and equipment will be imported from India for the production of pure high quality salt by means of evaporation purity up to 100% with a total of 150 thousand tons per year that will be exported.
What are the types of products you export?
The company exports raw salt, washed salt, edible salt and salt used for industrial and chemical purposes as well as salt used in leather dyeing. The company has also developed and converted natural salts by means of using special pools and abiding by industrial regulations.
What are the local companies you deal with it?
The Egyptian Company for refining salt, which supplies refined salt to hotels in Cairo, Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. The company also supplies salt to cheese manufacturing companies such as Domty co., Al-Masreen and Greenland as well as meat processing companies , such as Faraj Allah co. and Halawani; in addition to Rashidi Al Mezan company.
What are the obstacles which encountered you during the establishment of the new factory?
Bureaucracy, which we excpect it to be eradicated with the application of the new investment law. Furthermore, the poor performance of some staff of the Industrial Development Authority, which burdened our company with extra fines.
Also, the Ministry of Trade and Industry did not support us while establishing the factory. Furthermore, the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) refused to give us the factory’s land unless it obtains the checks along with arrears of interest; the land’s amount was installed for 3 years with high interest rates without a grace period. In addition, the license will be obtained only after five months
When did you obtain the land of the factory ?
We have received the factory land in October 2015. We succeeded to establish the factory, despite all the obstacles we encountered. We currently have all the facilities installed. We also, paid the full value of the land along with the benefits of delay as well.
Despite, bureaucracy and the strict governmental constraints, we are determined to continue our mission.
Are you planning to get a new marine shipping route?
The factory submitted an offer to get a new marine shipping route in the Red Sea, according the to the law of mines and quarries, which regulates the relationship between the investor and Mineral Resources Authority. However, the the Red Sea governor, did not approve our request until now. It is to be noted that according to law, this land is obtained through usufruct system, and therefore it is not permitted for any authority to set a specific price for; because the law has set its price already . Furthermore, the law allocates 1% of crude production value for the governorate, however, the governorate is not satisfied with this figure.
