Turkish ambassador says dozens of firms seek marble factories in Egypt

Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Salih Mutlu Şen said dozens of Turkish companies are looking to establish marble and granite factories in Egypt and use the country as a gateway to Africa. He made the remarks at the opening of Stone Africa 2026, which is attracting 200 buyers from 40 countries.

Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Salih Mutlu Şen announced that dozens of Turkish companies are seeking to enter the Egyptian market by establishing factories specializing in marble and granite. They aim to benefit from Egypt’s investment potential and use the country as a strategic gateway to African markets.

The ambassador made the remarks, as reported by Veto, while attending the opening on Thursday, November 12, of the second edition of the international marble, granite and natural stone exhibition Stone Africa 2026 at the Cairo International Convention Center in Nasr City. Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber, Export Council for Building Materials Chairman Ahmed Hafez, and representatives of industrial chambers and local and international companies attended the opening.

Reconstruction markets in Türkiye’s calculations

Şen said the building materials sector is currently experiencing significant growth, particularly in regional markets undergoing reconstruction, such as Syria, Iraq and Libya. He said these developments offer broad opportunities for Egypt and Türkiye to build strategic partnerships that meet the needs of those markets. He also affirmed the depth of industrial cooperation between the two countries, according to Cairo 24.

Officials tour the Stone Africa 2026 exhibition booths in Cairo

These plans come amid growing rapprochement between Ankara and Cairo across several areas, most recently the joint naval exercise Sea of Friendship 2026, which brought the two countries’ naval forces together in Alexandria.

Exhibition doubles its international buyers

The exhibition is held under the sponsorship of Egypt’s Ministry of Industry and runs through November 15, with about 200 international buyers from 40 countries participating, compared with 96 buyers from 23 countries at the first edition—an increase of 108 percent. Export Council Chairman Ahmed Hafez said the organizing body covers about half of the companies’ participation fees to give small factories the opportunity to meet foreign importers.

Entrance to the Stone Africa 2026 exhibition at the Cairo International Convention Center

Sayed Abaza, head of the Marble and Granite Division at the Building Materials Industries Chamber, said Egypt’s exports from the sector reach 160 countries. He revealed that a meeting with Libya’s industry minister is expected to discuss launching an edition of the exhibition in Libya. The Export Council aims to increase marble and granite exports by up to 50 percent by the end of 2026, after they reached $157 million during the first seven months of the year.

Photos: Al Borsa, Veto, Alam Al-Mal

Turkish ambassador says dozens of firms seek marble factories in Egypt