Egypt’s upstream oil and gas sector continues to be a major bright spot for the country’s economy, following a string of new discoveries in 2015. It’s a sector experiencing growth, and GE Oil & Gas is expanding its local service facility to deliver additional capabilities to customers working in this industry.

The facility will nearly double, from 3,000 sqm to 5,000 sqm and, once fully operational, will be home to more than 100 high-value technical, engineering and service jobs held by Egyptians.

Located in the free zone, the facility will handle the assembly, disassembly, repair, maintenance and testing of GE Oil & Gas products serving firms both in Egypt and internationally.

“We are proud to be a partner to GE, one of the world’s leading providers of advanced technologies and services,” stated Mr. Mohamed Khodair, Chairman of the General Authority for GAFI. “By creating the right investment environment, GE is now able to expand its operations and investment in the free zone which will support Egypt industrially and economically.”

The expanded facility, which is expected to be fully operational by mid-2017, also will include a training center for GE customers and employees. The learning programs will help expand local Egyptian expertise regarding the operation and service of the GE products being handled at the facility.

GE is a long-term partner focused on driving localization in the oil and gas sector in Egypt, examples of which include GE Oil & Gas partnering with Petrojet, a leading EPC services provider, to locally manufacture API Certified Sucker Rod pumping units in Egypt. To date more than 1,170 units have been manufacture locally, serving customers in Egypt, the Middle East and Europe.