Takehiko Tsutsui, President and CEO of JT Group, attended the inaugural Alamein Africa Forum, underscoring Egypt’s strategic importance to the Group and Africa’s potential to strengthen its role in global manufacturing and trade.
Held from October 2–4, the Forum brought together senior government officials, business leaders, and investors to explore opportunities for industrial development, regional integration, and economic growth. As a sponsor of the Forum, JTI Egypt supported dialogue on strengthening regional value chains, expanding intra-African trade and advancing industrial competitiveness.
Takehiko Tsutsui, President and CEO of JT Group, said: “I was delighted to participate in the inaugural edition of the Forum. Africa has all the elements needed to play an even greater role in global manufacturing networks: a dynamic and highly motivated workforce, growing consumer markets, improving infrastructure, and enhanced regional integration. Successful investment goes beyond simply building factories, although we are proud of our four production facilities in Africa. It also requires long-term cooperation between governments and businesses to develop local talent and foster predictable operating conditions.”
JTI’s investments across the African continent illustrate this strategy. In Egypt, manufacturing investments have gone hand in hand with developing local capabilities, training future leaders, and transferring international expertise to local teams.
In Egypt, geographic advantages, industrial infrastructure, and local talent are further reinforced by government efforts to improve the investment climate, solidifying the country’s role as a manufacturing and export hub connecting Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
Mariana Salib, General Manager of JTI Egypt, added: “Egypt’s economic reforms, investment incentives, and ongoing infrastructure development demonstrate a clear commitment to enhancing the country’s competitiveness. Our longstanding presence reflects our confidence in these fundamentals and our commitment to developing local talent and connecting Egyptian production with international markets. Maintaining constructive dialogue between government and business, alongside procedural clarity and customs efficiency, will remain key to converting these foundations into sustainable export opportunities.”
