With Samsung’s announcement of establishing a 6,000-square-meter mobile facility in Beni Suef, Egypt’s chances of becoming an African manufacturing hub for smartphones are growing, officials in the mobile market industry told Daily News Egypt
According to Karim Ghoneim, Head of the Digital Economy Division of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, Egypt is taking major strides in localizing the information technology industry.
He continued that Samsung’s announcement of establishing a mobile plant in Egypt is an important milestone in this direction and that it would have an advantageous impact on the Egyptian market in both the short and long run.
Ghoneim believes that with the stability of the currency rate and the establishment of a minimum local demand for mobile devices, consumers will experience the influence of local manufacturing on the pricing of smartphones
He noted that Egypt has all of the necessary components to become an African manufacturing and exporting center for mobile phones, owing to free trade agreements with a number of African and Arab nations.
He went on to say that Egypt has a lot of other advantages that contribute to its success as a manufacturing base, such as the availability of labor at reasonable pricing, as well as varied energy sources and logistical services.
On the other hand, a source in the mobile market confirmed the announcement within a few days of producing a new brand for its mobile devices in Egypt, refusing to share specifics at the moment while emphasizing that it is a significant regional company.
However, Mohamed Al-Mahdi, former agent of the General Federation of Chambers of Commerce’s Mobile Division, feels that Samsung’s announcement of constructing a mobile device factory in Egypt will have a good influence on the Egyptian mobile market.
According to Al-Mahdi, the presence of more than one local manufacturing will help the drop in mobile device prices and improve Egypt’s export potential, provided the exchange rate remains constant, as producers buy phone components.
He said that the presence of more than one mobile factory will help Egypt’s transition into a regional manufacturing base, as well as the rise of sectors that feed mobile phones, which will aid in the completion of the industry’s surrounding environment.
However, Mohamed Al-Mahdi, former agent of the General Federation of Chambers of Commerce’s Mobile Division, feels that Samsung’s announcement of constructing a mobile device factory in Egypt will have a good influence on the Egyptian mobile market.
According to Al-Mahdi, the presence of more than one local manufacturing will help the drop in mobile device prices and improve Egypt’s export potential, provided the exchange rate remains constant, as producers buy phone components.
He said that the presence of more than one mobile factory will help Egypt’s transition into a regional manufacturing base, as well as the rise of sectors that feed mobile phones, which will aid in the completion of the industry’s surrounding environment.
