French Legrand announces new expansion plans in Egypt, exports 45% of local production

CAIRO - 10 May 2023: French multinational company specializing in electrical and digital infrastructure, Legrand, announced expansion plans to introduce a wider product portfolio in an effort to close supply gaps in the local market and cater for a more diverse customer segment, locally and abroad.

 

Legrand also launched INNOVAL Egypt, an integrated services center that provides specialized training and support for technical staff and after-sales services, and technical studies and designs for Legrand partners and customers. 

 

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Benoît Coquart, global company CEO, and Nicolas Hobeilah, Legrand Managing Director in Egypt.

 

Legrand's worldwide sales totaled €8.3 billion in 2022, with an annual increase of 19.2 percent. The company has a workforce of over 38,000 people across 90 countries. Legrand distributes its products in more than 170 countries and owns more than 80 brands and 1000 product brands. The company allocates 5 percent of its sales revenue to R&D.

 

“My visit today is an affirmation of our commitment to the Egyptian market, and a clear act of faith that the economic challenges Egypt has been witnessing will be overcome. Our expansion plans are in line with global ambitions of strengthening our leading positions in electrical & digital infrastructures for buildings and becoming a benchmark for smart electrical devices. Our growth drivers will continue to be organic growth in the fast-growing segments of energy efficiency, data centers and connected products which currently account for one third of our business and  targeted bolt-on acquisitions. Since 1954, the Group has acquired 185 companies,” Benoît Coquart, CEO of Legrand, commented on his visit to Egypt. 

 

Coquart added that the company has widened its data centers and Internet-connected solutions by introducing the Eliot program. The program addresses increased connectivity needs, the climate crisis, consumers’ pursuit of comfort, and the desire of people with special needs to live independently for longer. In the medium term, we plan to generate half of our sales in these segments.

 

He noted that beyond the financial and commercial targets, the group also succeeded in achieving robust performance in its CSR initiatives, with a completion rate of 123 percent for the first year of its fifth CSR roadmap.

 

"Significant progress was made during the year, which included reducing CO2 emissions in Scopes 1 and 2 by 15 percent,  as well as an increase in the percentage of women in management positions to 28.5 percent,” he added.

 

For his part, Nicolas Hobeilah, Legrand’s Managing Director in Egypt, said that the company is proud that 45 percent of the products of our largest factory in Africa, Sadat City, Menoufia Governorate, is exporting to Europe and Africa. 

 

“I am personally proud of the company's expansion plan in Egypt and its commitment to local manufacturing as a strategic priority,” Hobeilah said.

 

“The company's expansion strategy entails offering a wider product portfolio that caters to the needs of more diverse customer segments and markets. The company is expanding its production facilities of the Sadat factory in order to reduce supply gaps in the local market, avail more competitive pricing, and stimulate export expansion," he added.

 

Hobeilah stated that Legrand is specifically expanding its Power and protection product portfolio by adding new locally manufactured electric control panels under the BTicino brand by the second half of this year. In addition to a special focus on manufacturing smart panels, along with standard ones, Legrand is increasing its partnerships with electric panel builders factories to ensure installation of Legrand products and enhance the safety & security of customers.

 

Legrand has been operating in the Egyptian market for over 50 years and built its factory almost four decades ago. The Sadat factory is Legrand's first and largest facility in Africa, covering an area of 17,000 square meters. The company currently employs 600 staff members, 25 percent of which are women.