The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) has recently secured a substantial long-term loan worth 30 billion Egyptian pounds (approximately 634 million USD) from the Commercial International Bank (CIB).
The agreement, formalized on October 28, 2025, aims to accelerate the modernization of the zone’s port and industrial facilities over a 17-year period, further strengthening SCZONE’s position as Egypt’s strategic hub for logistics and manufacturing.
Objectives and Fund Allocation
This financing is crucial to enhancing the operational capacity of the zone’s ports — particularly East Port Said — and improving public service efficiency.
- Debt restructuring: According to Walid Gamal El-Din, Chairman of SCZONE, 10 billion pounds will be allocated to restructuring a previous loan.
- New investments: The remaining 20 billion pounds will be dedicated to funding new infrastructure projects.
This initiative directly aligns with the goals of Egypt Vision 2030, which aims to boost national exports beyond 145 billion USD.
A Strategic Partnership
For CIB, this financial commitment reflects confidence in SCZONE’s growth potential, seen as a key driver of job creation and national competitiveness.
Amr Al-Janaini, Executive Vice President of the bank, emphasized that this financial support represents “a crucial lever to consolidate SCZONE’s status as a regional and international logistics hub.”
This partnership highlights the financial sector’s support for Egypt’s industrial development strategy and SCZONE’s capacity to generate sustainable prosperity.
A Catalyst for Industrial Transformation
Established to diversify the economic activities surrounding the Suez Canal, the zone continues its transformation into an integrated platform for manufacturing, processing, and re-exporting.
Its success is evidenced by the attraction of 8.3 billion USD in investments across 272 projects between 2022 and March 2025.
This momentum confirms SCZONE’s pivotal role in Egypt’s industrial modernization and its integration into global supply chains.
