Promoting economic growth and job creation in Egypt through the development of the country’s petrochemical industry
is the goal of a USTDA grant awarded today to the Egyptian Styrenics Production Company (E-Styrenics). The grant will be used
to fund early investment analysis on the establishment of a styrene plant in Alexandria, Egypt. Styrene is an input in the
manufacturing of polystyrene, a polymer used in the production of many household items and electrical appliances.
The $434,268 grant was conferred during a signing ceremony held at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. U.S. Ambassador to Egypt
Margaret Scobey and E-Styrenics Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Eng. Khaled Abd El-Badie signed the grant on behalf of
the U.S. Government and E-Styrenics, respectively.
The Government of Egypt has prioritized the development of the country’s petrochemical industry to meet domestic
demand, create jobs and generate foreign currency through exports. To further this objective, E-Styrenics, a state-owned Egyptian
company, is proposing to develop a 300,000 metric ton annual styrene plant in Alexandria, Egypt as part of a new styrenics
complex. Already, E-Styrenics has conducted investment analysis on the development of Phase I of the complex, which will include
a polystyrene plant, utilities and off-site facilities. The USTDA grant will fund analysis of the styrene monomer plant, which
comprises Phase II of the project. Construction on Phase I is expected to start in 2009 and E-Styrenics is interested in developing
Phase II in a parallel fashion to reduce the lag period before the company can produce its own styrene as the feedstock for
its polystyrene plant.
The opportunity to provide the USTDA-funded assistance to E-Styrenics will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities
website at www.fbo.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the Federal Business
Opportunities announcement. E-Styrenics will select the U.S. contractor that will carry out the study.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income
countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, early investment analysis, training, orientation visits
and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair, open trading environment. USTDA's
strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates
an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives
emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.
