by Ahmed Kamal
A delegation representing some 20 companies from Poland visited Egypt last week in an effort to do business in several of the country’s sectors.
“Our mission in Egypt is very important for us because many Polish companies in different sectors such as agriculture, railway vehicles, and logistics could do business in the Egyptian market,” said Janusz Michallik, director-general of Poland’s Chamber of Commerce (LODZ), told the Middle East Observer.
The Egyptian Businessmen Association (EBA) held a meeting with the Polish delegation in the presence of 20 members where they discussed the opportunities of potential bilateral cooperation.
Michallik added that the delegation invites Egyptian entrepreneurs to participate in the Poland Africa Congress to be held on 15-16 October.
He expects the volume of trade exchange between Egypt and Poland to rise to $300 million by the end of this year, although the current rate is not high as trade relations between the two countries have not been as strong. He also noted that around 100 Polish companies operate in the Egyptian market with investments estimated at $7 million.
“Polish investors are absolutely interested in investing in Egypt, especially the Suez Canal Zone,” Michallik said, adding that he believes at least 10 companies are already set to invest with factories for machinery and food production.
Andre Masek, a member of the Polish delegation and a representative of PESA Company specialised in rolling stock manufacturing, said that they seek to build a factory in Egypt to produce vehicles and locomotives.
“If we couldn’t get land to build the factory, we are thinking of adapting one of the governmental projects working in our field,” Masek said.
The initial cost of adapting an existing factory is estimated at between 15 and 16 million euros, according to Masek, who said he preferred the second choice.
“We have been in discussions with the Egyptian minister of transport since last February,” said Masek.
He added that PESA’s turnover globally is around three billion euros, and the company has a plan to open an office in Egypt by the end of the current year, as “Egypt for us is a gate to Africa”.
Another Polish company, PPH Agro-factory, is specialised in the production of agricultural machinery and is represented by Monika Denarska, the vice president of the company.
“We seek to start cooperation with Egyptian companies in the agriculture machinery sector, and we have a plan to build a factory in Egypt next year,” Denarska noted.
