New Unido Project To Support Solar Energy Use In Egypt Industrial Sector

CAIRO, 17 March 2015 - The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will help in building local capacities to manufacture solar energy systems and components in Egypt, and will promote the application of solar energy in the country's chemicals, agro-food and textile industries.
Today's official launch of the new project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), was attended by the Director General of UNIDO, LI Yong, and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Small and Medium Size Enterprises, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour. Director General Li is in the country to attend the Egyptian Economic Development Conference.
The new UNIDO project will focus on developing local capacities to manufacture solar energy products and components that are in compliance with international quality norms, with the objective of pursuing inclusive and sustainable industrial development. It is expected to bring in considerable investments from the private sector to support building the solar industry within Egypt, allowing it to play a leading role in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The project, worth a total of USD 6.5 million, is expected to generate investments in the renewable energy sector of more than USD 30 million and will further contribute of the objectives of the Egyptian Economic Development Conference.
"Renewable energy will help Egypt on the path to inclusive and sustainable industrial development, will make the country's economy greener and will meet the industrial sector's growing energy demand," said Director General Li.
Within the wider UNIDO-GEF energy programme in Egypt, UNIDO and Egypt's Ministry of Industry, Trade and SMEs are working closely to enhance the competitiveness and productivity of Egyptian industry by improving the energy efficiency of energy-intensive sectors such as iron and steel, cement and ceramics, and contributing to a stable energy supply by introducing renewable energy applications in industry, especially solar energy.
"The new project will be instrumental in building the capacity of the local supply chain for manufacturing solar energy in Egypt and is expected to contribute to creating new jobs and support entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector. UNIDO's expertise and resources will surely support our efforts in promoting sustainable energy in the industrial sector," said Minister Abdel Nour.
"For more information, please contact:"
"Rana Ghoneim"

UNIDO Industrial Development Officer

* "email"
"Hanan El-Hadary"

Chairman of the Industrial Council for Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Trade, Industry and SMEs

* "email "