Mai El Gendy

Egypt - 18th - 27th November

General Manager of the Promotion & Facilitation Department - General Authority for Investment & Free Zones (GAFI) of Egypt

From 18 to 27 November 2025, UNIDO ITPO Italy hosted the 2025 edition of its UNIDO Delegate Programme, welcoming Ms. Mai El Gendy, General Manager of the Promotion & Facilitation Department at the General Authority for Investment & Free Zones (GAFI) of Egypt. The programme opened in Rome with a high-level roundtable at UNIDO ITPO Italy’s headquarters, held at the presence of Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo and SACE Group. Over the following days, the Delegate visited several regions across Italy to explore new avenues for cooperation between Egypt and the Italian public, private, and academic sectors. The first leg of the mission took place in Prato, where meetings were organized at Confartigianato Prato, attended by around 20 local companies, and Confindustria Toscana Nord, attended by a dozen of local companies operating primarily in the textile sector. The presentations were followed by B2B meetings and visits to three local companies, namely Cofil, Pentek, and Siatex. The second leg, in the Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) Region, included institutional visits to the University of Udine and the University of Trieste — offering Ms. El Gendy the opportunity to engage with students and faculty in logistics, engineering, and related disciplines. Further meetings were held with the Autonomous FVG Region, the Port of Trieste, Interporto of Trieste, Finest S.p.A., and the World Trade Center Trieste, where discussions also involved Samer & Co. Shipping, that recently inaugurated a cargo service between the ports of Damietta and Trieste. The final leg of the Delegate Programme concluded in the Lombardy Region, with visits to Filmar in Brescia and a series of productive meetings in Milan with Assolombarda, A.R. Technologies, Confindustria Tessile e Moda, and Albini Group. Discussions also highlighted the ongoing impact of “The Egyptian Cotton Project - Phase II” implemented by UNIDO ITPO Italy with financial support from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).