Egypt\'s Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade Hatem Saleh Egypt\'s Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade, Hatem Saleh has announced plans to allow nine European firms to open factories in Egypt. Following a visit to central Europe, Saleh told reporters that Italian, Spanish and French companies had agreed in principle to open factories in the industries of engineering, renewable energy, and leather.
An Italian industrial plant will be established in al-Alameen, with a Spanish plant to be built in the al-Robiki area of Badr City.
The minister also confirmed he had signed an agreement with the French government to form a committee to develop an incentive programme for small and medium-sized factories in France to form partnerships with their counterparts in Egypt.
Saleh said the Egyptian government would work with governmental and non- governmental economic experts to plan an economic vision and achieve sustainable development in Egypt. He added that the people of Egypt sent a strong message to the European Union that all parties are working together to build a new Egypt.
The Egyptian delegation which met Spanish, Italian, and French officials also spent time with think tanks, and those interested in economic affairs of  the Middle East.
During presentations, Egyptian delegates focused on the current political and economic conditions in Egypt, especially in relation to the building of state institutions and the negotiations with International Monetary Fund (IMF).