Egypt is set to launch the ‘Go Green Exhibition’, the first of its kind in a two-day event from 4th January to 6th, highlighting the conversion of vehicles to clean energy and replacement technologies at the Egypt International Exhibition Center (EIEC). The event has been sponsored by President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
Despite the negative effect of Covid19 and climatic shocks to the global economy, Egypt experienced positive growth in November 2020 as engineering exports appreciated by 23% to $229.6m compared to $187.3m in the same month of 2019.
The areas that experienced an increase in exports are cables and household appliances by 21% each, automobile components by 18%, and tremendous growth in vehicles by 72%.
During the exhibition, the initiative will be launched to convert cars to run on natural gas and create awareness of economic and environmental benefits resulting from promoting natural gas use as a fuel for cars; an important strategic aspect of the Go Green movement. The event is designed to shed light on financing mechanisms available within the initiative to promote higher numbers of conversions.
According to Nevine Gamea, the Minister of Trade and Industry, the exhibition consists of eleven workshops which will cover important subject matters to be discussed by specialists. This involves professional contributions and evaluation of all information needed on the state initiative to replace and convert vehicles to natural gas and the steps to complete the conversion. Participants in the exhibition are representatives of natural gas companies, car manufacturers, industrialists, bank officials, experts, and local and international stakeholders.
The signing of Memoranda (MoU) and contracts funding in the field of vehicle conversions to natural gas are major reasons for the event. As part of the expectations, these agreements will provide opportunities for the successful exportation of locally produced cars to international markets. Meanwhile, the UK, France, Germany, and Spain are the leading countries importing Egyptian engineering products from Europe. African countries like Algeria, Morocco, Sudan, and Kenya are part of the importation chain, while Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait join the thread from Asia.
In the first five months of 2020/2021 fiscal year, Egypt’s engineering exports surged by 6% to $1.11bn as compared to $1.05bn during 2019/2020. The Engineering Export Council of Egypt (EECE) recorded an extra boost in the sector’s exports by about 25% of the target annually. This has successfully aided Egypt’s political leadership strategy in boosting exports from various sectors to $100bn.
Gamea also mentioned that the workshops will inform the public about the advantages of using natural gas for cars; part of the Go Green campaign. During the exhibition’s activities, an initiative to raise awareness of economic and environmental benefits resulting from promoting natural gas use as a fuel for cars.
In addition, different vehicle models will be showcased during the event such as electricity powered cars, trucks, sedans, buses, as well as microbuses operating with natural gas or modified ones.
All in all, the Egyptian Ministry of Trade launched an outdoor advertising campaign in the streets of Cairo to spread the word about the upcoming Go Green Exhibition that will take place in Egypt International Exhibition Center (EIEC).
The Go Green Exhibition is established to discuss solutions and ways to extend the use of natural gas for vehicles, and raise awareness of its benefits for a more sustainable environment. The campaign appears with an interesting visual of a totally green vehicle made up of leaves, declaring “The first exhibition for switching technology and substituting vehicles to work with clean energy”, clarifying the dates and location along with the strategic partners as Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Local Development, Central Bank of Egypt, Arab Organization for Industrialization, and more.
By Elijah Christopher,
