Egypt Eyes Expanded Industrial Gas, Clean Energy Investments with French "Air Liquide"

Egypt is stepping up efforts to attract foreign investment in high-value industrial sectors, holding talks with French industrial gases giant Air Liquide to explore expanding its footprint in the local market, particularly in industrial gases and clean energy.

The discussions brought together Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Mohamed Farid Saleh and Industry Minister Khaled Hashem with senior executives from the company, focusing on opportunities to scale up operations and deepen technological collaboration.

Air Liquide has been active in Egypt since 2002, operating around 15 production sites and serving more than 800 clients across a range of industries. The company’s investments in the country have exceeded €100 million, with new plans targeting pipeline network expansion and infrastructure upgrades to support industrial growth.

Officials highlighted that expanding industrial gas projects is critical to supporting heavy and manufacturing industries, while also improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in line with Egypt’s green transition strategy.

Minister Farid emphasized the government’s ongoing push to improve the investment climate and attract foreign direct investment, particularly in sectors that deliver added value. He pointed to Egypt’s modern infrastructure and strategic geographic location as key advantages for global investors.

The talks also underscored the importance of technology transfer, with a focus on enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian industrial output and integrating advanced production methods.

For his part, Minister Hashem stressed the need to localize industrial gas technologies, especially for strategic sectors such as steel, glass, food processing, and medical industries. He also called for exploring local manufacturing of gas cooling units to reduce reliance on imports.

Executives from Air Liquide signaled strong interest in expanding into hydrogen and energy projects in Egypt, citing the country’s potential as a regional hub for clean energy production.

The company’s regional leadership described Egypt as a promising market, supported by a skilled workforce and growing industrial base, positioning it as a key destination for future investment.