Eng. Hassan El Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, emphasized, during the inauguration of the Firefighting Capability and Fire Equipment Testing Center in Badr City, the ministry's commitment to provide internationally accredited laboratories equipped with the latest technological equipment, in addition to specialized and qualified technical personnel to conduct all types of examinations and tests. He indicated that the development of the GOEIC's laboratories contributes to improving the investment climate and instills confidence in investors through providing internationally accredited local laboratories that enable them to obtain Conformity and Inspection Certificates in high efficiency.
Al-Khatib added that this project falls within the framework of the state's strategy to localize vital industries, noting that modern technical infrastructure contributes to raising the quality of Egyptian products and increasing their export capacity, which supports the state's plan to achieve exports in a value of $145 billion annually.
The Minister explained that localizing the firefighting equipment industry represents a strategic dimension in enhancing national industrial security and provides distinctive opportunities for Egyptian products of internationally recognized quality to penetrate global markets.
Al-Khatib stated that the GOEIC plays a key role within the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade's strategy aiming at promoting and developing the Foreign Trade and achieving the goals of the state's plan to increase Egyptian commodity exports. He indicated that the ministry is working to accelerate the inspection and release of cargos at ports, that will contribute to facilitating Egypt's Foreign Trade.
The Minister noted that establishing Firefighting Capability Testing Center will contribute to localizing the fire extinguishers industry, as well as improving the competitiveness of Egyptian products in foreign markets and supporting the state's capabilities in the field of specialized technical inspection of exported and imported shipments, while reducing reliance on foreign entities in the inspection. He pointed out that the center will also contribute to supporting national industries in the firefighting and civil protection equipment sector, and facilitate the companies' access to inspection and conformity certificates entailed to accomplish the export process.
On his part, Eng. Essam El-Naggar, Chairman of the GOEIC, demonstrated a comprehensive explanation of the center, considered as a true achievement on the ground. He pointed out that it is the only center in the Middle East that includes all tests related to firefighting capabilities and fire equipment.
He said that the center is built on an area of 2,688 square meters and includes a main building consisting of three floors, including rooms for preparing samples, changing rooms, a meeting room, administrative offices, and a laboratory for fire-fighting equipment and devices. It also includes a subsidiary building No. 1 for conducting Fire-fighting Aptitude Test, as well as a subsidiary building No. 2 for conducting explosive pressure tests, which is designed to withstand and endure pressure up to 2,000 bars. It also includes a wood store, a water tank for fire-fighting, a pump room, a room for a backup generator, and a security room.
He pointed out that the center conducts all tests in accordance with the binding Egyptian standards and international standards, including Firefighting Aptitude Tests on wood fires for the extinguishers with a capacity of 1 kg up to 12 kg, the firefighting Aptitude of gasoline fires for the extinguishers with a capacity of 1 kg up to 12 kg, the performance of extinguishing devices, bursting pressure, fatigue, resistance to external corrosion, effective range of operating temperature, dropping the device with a hose, impact with a falling weight, thickness of the body, top and bottom, pressure gauge, minimum discharge time, remaining charge, start of discharge, effective range of operating temperature, hose performance, bursting pressure of the manometer, resistance to external corrosion, and bursting pressure of the handle.
He added that the center includes a number of laboratories, including a firefighting aptitude testing laboratory, a firefighting equipment testing laboratory, a pressure testing laboratory, and a chemical analysis testing laboratory, which examine many items, including manual and refillable dry powder fire extinguishers, and manual and refillable water-based and foam fire extinguishers, manual and refillable CO2 fire extinguishers, pressure regulators (manometers), low-expansion foam liquid for extinguishing fuel fires, fire hose reels, head and launcher sets, fire extinguishing nozzles, and fire hydrants.
Engineer Hassan Al-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, witnessed a practical demonstration of fire-fighting aptitude and explosive pressure tests. He praised the team's professionalism, emphasizing that the GOEIC now have a highly advanced infrastructure in accordance with the International Standards, consolidating its position as a regional center for inspection and testing.
The opening ceremony was attended by Eng. Nader Riad, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bavaria, and Major General Ahmed Shukry, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Helwan Engineering Industries Company (Military Factory 99) at the Ministry of Military Production.