Kamel Al-Wazir, the Vice Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Egypt recently undertook an extensive inspection of Robbiki Leather City. His primary aim was to address the concerns of investors and enhance the city’s integration with public transportation.
During the tour, Al-Wazir closely examined the progress of various development phases within Robbiki Leather City, which is being constructed in three distinct phases.
The first phase, covering 176 feddans, consists of 216 units designated for tanning, leather storage, and chemical warehousing. These units have been allocated to 192 investors as compensation for the tanneries relocated from Magra El-Oyoun.
The second phase spans 109 feddans and features 28 hangars for glue factories and 17 hangars housing a total of 159 units. Of these, 141 units are earmarked as compensation for the relocated tanneries.
The third phase, which covers 221 feddans, includes 100 multi-space hangars for leather product manufacturing, along with facilities for waste treatment and industrial wastewater management.
During a meeting with investors, several key issues were highlighted. These included the need to complete internal works for the supplementary phases, provide adequate drying areas for leather, and establish a technological center to activate the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) grant.
The industrial community emphasized the importance of providing refrigerated storage for leather and swiftly rehabilitating the technological center to support small investors in the leather splitting business. This initiative aims to maintain leather quality and minimize waste through automated slaughterhouses.
In response, Al-Wazir confirmed ongoing progress on the 63-kilometre Robiki – 10th of Ramadan – Belbeis railway line, which will connect Robbiki Leather City to the logistics area at the dry port in the 10th of Ramadan City. This project is part of the Ministry of Industry’s broader efforts to streamline procedures for leather manufacturers, reducing both time and costs.
The Minister announced that the Ministry of Transport’s Internal and Domestic and International Land Transport Regulatory Authority will coordinate with Cairo for Investment and Development, the company managing Robiki City, to provide internal transportation for workers starting next month.
This service will facilitate transport to and from factories via light rail transit (LRT) to the Adly Mansour Interchange Station, ensuring connectivity to national routes.
Al-Wazir also visited the area comprising 17 hangars and 100 factories over 90 feddans in the third phase, dedicated to finished leather product manufacturing. He inspected the Leather Tanning Technology Centre and directed immediate maintenance of the center’s equipment, the establishment of operational mechanisms, and adherence to environmental standards for waste management.
Furthermore, the Minister reviewed operations at a tannery covering 5,500 square meters, which produces one million square feet of leather monthly. This facility provides over 150 jobs and exports 99% of its production to markets in Europe, China, India, Portugal, and Greece.
Addressing an investor’s concern about inadequate ventilation in one of the second phase hangars, Al-Wazir ordered an inspection and approved the installation of a ventilation system for the sanding machine.
Concluding his visit, Al-Wazir inspected the city’s treatment plant and industrial wastewater system, which spans 282 feddans and processes 8,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily. This inspection highlights the government’s commitment to ensuring the operational efficiency and environmental sustainability of Robbiki Leather City.
In conclusion, the inspection by Vice Prime Minister Kamel Al-Wazir underscores the government’s dedication to addressing investor needs and enhancing the infrastructure of Robbiki Leather City. By improving transportation links, addressing industrial concerns, and ensuring environmental standards, the city is set to become a significant hub for leather production and export.
Note – A feddan is a unit of area measurement commonly used in Egypt and Sudan. One feddan is equivalent to 1.038 acres or approximately 0.42 hectares. It is a traditional measurement unit used primarily in agriculture and land transactions.
