Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Minister Rania Al-Mashat and Local Development Minister Manal Awad, who is also acting Environment Minister, inspected the facility alongside Sohag Governor Abdul Fattah Serag. The visit focused on the Al-Radwan International Engineering Industries factory, which represents a $5m investment on a 5,000-square-metre site, producing compressors with capacities ranging from 1/10 to 3/4 horsepower.
Project officials stated that the plant currently operates with 40% local components, with plans to increase this to 70% to reduce the national import bill. Governor Serag noted that the project aims to meet domestic demand and export to markets including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Sudan, Yemen, and Libya.
The West Gerga industrial zone spans 1,089 acres and is located 8km from Sohag International Airport and 50km from Sohag city. It currently houses 223 factories with an occupancy rate of 94.7%.