Knauf Egypt inaugurates its first Training Center in Cairo in collaboration with the German Investment Corporation

By : MAHER BADR

(DEG) and the develoPPP programme of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Knauf Egypt launched the Cairo Training Center today at a press conference held at the company’s Head Office in Maadi, Cairo.
The ceremony was attended by Ms. Isabel Knauf, General Partner of the Global Knauf Group, Mr. Emmanuel Sigalas, Managing Director of Knauf Egypt, Mr. Tilman Hochmüller, representative of his excellency the German Ambassador to Egypt, Mr. Alexander Schutz, Managing Director of Knauf Engineering and Mr. Ahmed Abdelrahman, Head of Training and the Training Centers at Knauf Egypt, Mr. Jan Nöther The Head of German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Egypt) and five representatives of KFW DEG.
This Training center was inaugurated under the auspices of the German cooperation program with the goals of reducing unemployment and to elevate construction workers’ skills and facilitate their entry into the labor market considering the construction and engineering revolution that is currently taking place in Egypt.
Ms. Isabel Knauf, General Partner of Knauf Global, expressed her happiness saying “I thank our guests for attending today in Egypt, this is the result of the investments that began in 2009” she then continued “We plan to be the largest gypsum board manufacturer in Africa by 2024. The training center will provide Egypt with the highest standard of quality according to the approved specifications to raise the level of safety and quality”.
Mr. Emmanuel Sigalas, Managing Director of Knauf Egypt, confirmed that when the investment volume increases, this entails more job opportunities and as for Knauf Egypt we are currently doubling production, which needs more highly skilled labor, thus the importance of training as they will be ready and trained to work with one of the best-selling products in the Egyptian market.
Mr. Tilman Hochmüller, representative of his excellency the German Ambassador to Egypt said that Knauf Egypt has achieved great success and the company’s history proves this. He then added that Knauf Egypt started with one person, Sigalas, and today the company has more than 160 Employees and is considered one of the most important companies in the Egyptian market and a pioneer in the field of construction and that the training centers launched by Knauf Egypt will raise the levels of efficiency of both workers and engineers as well.
Mr. Alexander Schutz, Managing Director of Knauf Engineering, declared that the most important factors for success are to be with the right person at the right time, and to work with Knauf is one of the most important reasons for success. In Egypt, it is scientific, and it is not easy, but we will succeed together in implementing it.
Mr. Klaus Helsper, Business Director of DEG hailed the cooperation between DEG and Knauf, and that he is happy with the relationship with the same company that has achieved many projects on ground.
Mr. Ahmed Abdelrahman, Head of Training and the Training Centers at Knauf Egypt, explained that this training center is one of three training centers, the second will be located in Upper Egypt, in Asyut and the third in the Mediterranean & Delta Area, in Alexandria. The goal is to cover the most influential geographic locations in Egypt and reach the Egyptian youth as much as possible.
It is now well noted that “Knauf Egypt” is serious about reaching the Egyptian workforce and youth and is committed to train Egyptian Engineers, Craftsmen and Students on the best global practices in the Gypsum field as it is currently becoming the predominant product applied in all modern national and urban projects in Egypt.