Infrastructure key component in Egypt’s economic drive: Nassef Sawiris

Nassef Sawiris, business tycoon and CEO of OCI N.V elaborates in an interview with Daily News Egypt on the company’s investment plans in Egypt, and how the company can contribute to overcome the challenges in the country

You’ve previously stated that OCI will seek investments in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Is the company eyeing specific projects?

There is focus on power as the country needs significant new power infrastructure investment to help reduce the deficit. As the country’s leading large-scale infrastructure contractor, we are able to bring decades of expertise in the construction and operation and maintenance of essential infrastructure projects. We have been involved in almost half the power plants that have been built in Egypt in the past decade.

What is the volume of investments the company is willing to invest in each sector?

Egypt is a core market for OCI. As a contractor, we have been a leading player for over six decades in the country, which has historically also been a home for our large cement and fertiliser investments. We are open to large-scale complex infrastructure and industrial investments that add value to our investors and to the country. The preliminary investment value of the announced coal-fired power projects with IPIC is over $3.5bn, and is indicative for the size and scale of the investments we are pursuing in Egypt.

Will the company target any projects in new and renewable energy?