MINSK, 25 October (BelTA) – Belarus will participate in a project to set up a furniture cluster in Egypt, Yuri Nazarov, Chairman of the Belarusian timber, woodworking, pulp, and paper industry concern Bellesbumprom, told BelTA ahead of negotiations with a delegation of Egypt's Chamber Of Woodworking and Furniture Industries.
“Egypt is considering setting up a furniture cluster in Damietta. Basically, this is about creating an industrial park for further development of furniture manufacturing in Egypt. They are interested in our assistance as our furniture industry boasts a good history and Belarusian furniture brands are well-known far outside the country. We have certain expertise to help them form this cluster. For us, this project is of interest as it opens up an opportunity to enter the Egyptian one,” Yuri Nazarov remarked.
In his words, the talks are aimed at finding mutually beneficial ways to cooperate. “We will suggest training specialists for Egypt's furniture industry in our educational institutions. Moreover, we can supply Egypt with raw materials for furniture manufacturing. We have modernized the production of tiles. Now we can offer a wide range of these products but specialists will need to work on logistics-related matters. Today we are to establish contacts and discuss options. Maybe, at first we will cooperate in trade and export tiles for the production of Egyptian furniture. A joint venture can be established in Egypt in the future to co-produce furniture targeted at the African market,” the Bellesbumprom chairman said.
Abdel Halim Eleraky, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber Of Woodworking and Furniture Industries, stressed that Egypt is interested in cooperation with Belarus in wood working. “Belarusian products truly have a very good quality and can compete on the global market,” he added.
A delegation of the Chamber Of Woodworking and Furniture Industries has arrived in Belarus to learn more about the potential of the woodworking industry and discuss trade and economic cooperation. Today members of the delegation led by Abdel Halim Eleraky and CEO of Damietta Furniture City Moataz Baha El-Din, are going to meet with Yuri Nazarov, Chairman of the Association of Furniture and Wood Industry Valery Bushilo, and top managers of Belarusian companies. The Egyptian delegation visited the biggest trade center of Pinskrev Holding Company on 25 October and will visit Ivatsevichdrev and Slonimmebel furniture manufacturers on 26 October.
