Construction workers on a Jushi project in Egypt [Photo provided by Jushi Group]
"In Egypt, fiberglass production was once a significant challenge. However, since our company entered the market in 2012, the sector has seen remarkable growth, " said Qian Zixin, an official from China Jushi Co, the world's top manufacturer of fiberglass.
Fiberglass is known for its extensive range of applications, and Jushi Egypt has helped the development of downstream and upstream industries of fiberglass in Egypt, boosting the local economy in the process.
With an annual design capacity of 320,000 tons and total investment nearing $1 billion, Jushi Egypt has successfully addressed the technological shortfall in Africa's glass fiber industry. This progress has elevated Egypt to the status of the world's fourth-largest fiberglass producer and generated over 2,000 jobs.
"Our domestic experts regularly travel to Egypt to train apprentices, imparting Chinese technology and expertise to the region," Qian said.
Jushi Egypt recruits new graduates from local universities and provides them with training at the company's headquarters in China. Consequently, many Egyptian staff members have advanced to middle and senior management roles within the company.
"At present, 76 percent of Jushi Egypt's middle management are local employees, with the overall localization rate of staff exceeding 98 percent," Qian said, underscoring that local integration is a fundamental aspect of the company's operational strategy.
Romuald, a Cameroonian who joined Jushi Co after graduating from Zhejiang Normal University in China, now specializes in equipment maintenance.
"Since joining the company, I have learned extensively from my mentor" Romuald said.
He is confident that the skills he acquired in China will enable him to realize his full potential upon his return to Cameroon: "Teach a man to fish rather than giving him a fish.
"By introducing core technologies to Egypt and fostering local employment, China Jushi Co is promoting sustainable development in the region."