Chinese smartphone giant OPPO has inaugurated a new $50 million manufacturing plant in Egypt’s 10th of Ramadan City, marking a major milestone in the country’s strategy to localize high-tech industries and attract foreign investment.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, who attended the inauguration alongside Communications Minister Amr Talaat and OPPO Middle East & Africa CEO Lay Ren, said the project embodies the goals of the “Egypt Makes Electronics” initiative—positioning electronics manufacturing as a core driver of growth, exports, and skilled employment. “Our Egyptian engineers and workers produce with precision and quality that rival the world’s best,” Madbouly said.
The new facility spans 24,000 square metres, employing about 2,000 Egyptians, and produces around 400,000 smartphones per month—equivalent to 5 million units annually—with a local value-added rate of 42%. OPPO currently operates 17 production lines, with plans to expand to 20 by early 2026, raising monthly output to half a million units. The company also plans to start exporting Egypt-made smartphones to Arab markets by late 2026, followed by the addition of smartwatch and wireless accessory lines.
Globally, OPPO ranks among the top five smartphone brands, maintaining strong footholds across Asia and emerging markets. In China and India, OPPO and its sub-brand realme command significant market shares, driven by mid-range models and aggressive retail expansion. In Egypt, OPPO holds roughly 17% of the smartphone market, second only to Samsung, reflecting its strong brand recognition and distribution reach. Across Africa, shipments rose by about 17% in early 2025, according to Canalys, while in the Middle East, OPPO remains a key challenger in the mid-tier segment, competing closely with Xiaomi, Honor, and Transsion brands.
In contrast, its market presence in Europe and North America remains limited following patent disputes and heightened competition from Apple and Samsung, leading OPPO to focus its long-term strategy on Asia, the Middle East, and Africa—regions expected to drive the next wave of smartphone demand.
Minister Talaat said OPPO’s project reflects “rising global confidence in Egypt’s investment environment,” noting that 15 international brands now manufacture mobile phones locally, with a combined capacity of 20 million units annually and total investments exceeding $200 million.
OPPO’s CEO Lay Ren affirmed the company’s long-term commitment to Egypt as a strategic manufacturing hub for the MENA region, emphasizing that the new facility serves as “a platform for innovation, skills development, and regional growth.” The project stems from a 2022 memorandum of understanding with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) under the government’s drive to deepen local electronics manufacturing.
