January 30 marked the next expansion milestone for Y-EMEA’s manufacturing footprint: Our company held the official ground-breaking ceremony for the very first production plant in Egypt (YEG). Both the location − situated in the Fayoum industrial zone, around 120 kilometers south of Cairo − and the development opportunities are excellent. The production of electrical systems is scheduled to start there already in July this year. Around 3,000 new Y-EMEA colleagues in production plus a total of 500 in engineering and administration will take on this task. Egyptian authorities and institutions strongly support the project. Many of their high-ranking representatives, like Ahmed Samir, Minister of Trade and Industry, Ahmed Al-Ansary, Fayoum Governor, and Hosam Heiba, GAFI President, joined the groundbreaking. The organization team also welcomed prominent Japanese politicians like Hiroshi Oka, Japanese Ambassador to Egypt. From the Yazaki EMEA leadership, Hans Lemmens, President & CEO, and Chairman Yamada Munenori had come to the approximately 70,000 square meter construction site.

“This first plant in Egypt is a clear manifestation of our dedication to operational excellence. Today’s groundbreaking underlines our commitment to investment, growth, excellence and partnership in the EMEA region,” Hans Lemmens said. “I also express our gratitude to the Egyptian authorities for their continuous support. Their commitment has played a crucial role in making this project reality.”

“We are looking forward to the further sustainable development of this plant and our investment  − and to continuing our close cooperation in Egypt! Let us open a new era together!” Ahmed Bedewy emphasized.

A meeting chaired by the Prime Minister of Egypt, Mostafa Madbouly, followed the ceremony. The joining Yazaki representatives used it to discuss the company's next steps and potential future plans in Egypt with him: Both Y-EMEA’s CEO and Chairman, as well as Yoshimoto Ito, General Manager YC PMD, and Ahmed Bedewy, Managing Director of Yazaki Egypt, saw it as a great opportunity.

A lot has already happened in the run-up to this day: for example, Yoshimoto Ito had made his first visit to Egypt. In a meeting with the Fayoum Governor, the new plant was the major topic. It will contribute to the local development and therefore become another perfect example for a further Yazaki site that is “in step with the world and needed by society,“ as Yoshimoto-san emphasized.