Robbiki Leather City: the Egyptian mission concludes in Turbigo

The Italian mission of the official Egyptian delegation from Robbiki Leather City, led by Dr. Ahmed Maghawry, Assistant to the Egyptian Minister of Industry for International Cooperation, concluded on September 18 in Turbigo. Following the visit and meetings at Simac Tanning Tech, the mission’s program on the final day featured the international conference “Leather and Its District: A Century of History,” dedicated to the history and evolution of the Turbigo tanning district.
The event, moderated by Ernesto Pisoni, took place in the presence of Turbigo Mayor Fabrizio Allevi, the head of the Egyptian delegation, and experts, institutional representatives, and key figures from the sector. Speakers included local historian Giuseppe Leoni, Magazzini Generali CEO Francesco Bellone, and IULTCS Vice President Giancarlo Lovato, who highlighted the important work carried out by the International Union of Tanning Chemists in promoting scientific knowledge and preserving tanning culture.
Particularly comprehensive was the presentation by Prof. Christian Garavaglia, Professor of Industrial Economics at the University of Milan-Bicocca and a Lombardy Regional Councilor, who traced the industrial and economic evolution

The presentation by Prof. Christian Garavaglia, Professor of Industrial Economics at the University of Milan-Bicocca and a Lombardy Regional Council member, was particularly comprehensive; he traced the industrial, economic, and social evolution of manufacturing districts. In a context marked by growing international competition, he emphasized, every economic actor is called upon to contribute to value creation along the entire value chain. Institutions also play an important role: in this context, the Lombardy Region is committed to providing concrete support to the region’s economic supply chains.
The backdrop to this is the experience of Robbiki Leather City, which has become a significant example of how Italian cooperation can translate into concrete support for the industrial development of a supply chain. The district arose from the need to relocate the dozens of artisanal tanneries concentrated in the Magra El Eyoun area—in the heart of the Egyptian capital—outside of Cairo.
Today, Robbiki is a modern and functional industrial park, equipped with infrastructure and services, that is home to approximately 190 small and medium-sized enterprises, including tanneries, mechanical engineering firms, and specialized suppliers. It is a production hub in continuous growth, set to welcome new businesses in the near future and consolidate its strategic role in the Egyptian leather supply chain.

The Robbiki project has strengthened ties between Egyptian industry and Italian leather-producing regions, promoting infrastructure, technological innovation, and environmental and labor management. The results achieved have paved the way for new projects focused on the marble and granite and furniture sectors as well.
The goal now is to transition from public support to creating favorable conditions for private investment, technology transfer, and lasting economic partnerships. In this regard, Robbiki serves as a model of cooperation capable of attracting investment, creating jobs, and strengthening local supply chains.
As part of the collaboration, in addition to the technology trade show for the leather sector, the Egyptian delegation visited Italian companies, research centers, and tanning districts—including Vigevano and Turbigo—engaging with the entire supply chain and key suppliers of technology and machinery.
The day concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, in the presence of the mayor, guests, and delegation representatives, to strengthen collaboration between Italy and Egypt and create new opportunities for the leather industry.
In the afternoon, the delegation visited the CAP Group (Consorzio Acqua Potabile), which manages the integrated water service and wastewater treatment, to receive clarification on important environmental and water management issues.
After an intensive program of meetings, technical visits, training sessions, and discussions with Italian companies and associations, the mission concludes with tangible results: new relationships, shared expertise, and partnerships that lay the groundwork for the future development of collaboration between Italy and Egypt in the leather industry.