Univar, a leading global chemical distributor, announced today that Univar Egypt, based in Cairo, Egypt is now fully operational. The new entity includes office and warehouse space and will be headed by Ahmed Fakhr El-Deen.

Univar has experience doing business in Egypt as it has been distributing products into the region from the UK for more than 15 years. Having a truly local operation will enable Univar to strengthen existing relationships and improve its value-added proposition to customers and suppliers. Partners will benefit from the local stocking of products in Egypt as well as having the option of being invoiced and paying in local currency.

Fakhr El-Deen is the former managing director of a large local chemical distribution company and comes to Univar with over 12 years of experience in the Egyptian distribution market.

The Egyptian market offers much potential, with a population of around 80 million. Growing industrial activity, combined with an increasingly sophisticated and demanding consumer market, make it an attractive region for Western companies. At the same time, local suppliers are looking to introduce their products to new markets in Europe and beyond and need an international partner to do so.

"Egypt is a very dynamic market with a lot of opportunities, and having a local presence in Cairo is invaluable," explains Fahkr El-Deen. "We are already seeing a lot of activity here and there is a tremendous potential for many of our key business areas, including personal care, household and industrial cleaning, energy, food, pharmaceuticals and coatings."

"In terms of distributors, the Egyptian market is very fragmented, characterized by a multitude of local companies and a small handful of regional players that may have a presence in one or two additional territories close by," explains Nick Powell, Univar's general manager Middle East & Africa. "Univar is one of the first global chemical distributors with a real local presence here and we are looking forward to supporting both customers and suppliers in this fast-growing market."

Univar's strong sales and marketing teams complement chemical producers and create value for customers. The company provides technical expertise in application development, excellence in logistics support, and outstanding customer service to help its partners grow their business.