Egyptian Swiss Group for Pasta, Milling, and Concentrates welcomed Vimal Shah, Chairman of Bidco Africa, at its Cairo headquarters, as part of an official visit aimed at exploring industrial and trade cooperation opportunities between the two sides.
The visit resulted in extensive discussions to explore avenues of cooperation that aim to strengthen the presence of both companies’ products in the Kenyan market and expand further into East and Central African markets.
Bidco Africa is one of the largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in the region. Founded in the 1970s by entrepreneur Bhimji Depar Shah, the company evolved from a small textile business into a major regional industrial powerhouse. Headquartered in Thika, Kenya, its portfolio spans edible oils and fats, soaps and detergents, as well as food and beverages including juices, noodles, and soft drinks.
The company commands a significant market share in vegetable oils and detergents across Kenya and East Africa, positioning it as a major competitor to global players. It serves more than 100,000 retail outlets daily in Kenya and beyond, while providing around 4,500 direct jobs and over 11,000 indirect jobs, underscoring its economic and social weight. Bidco also plays a key role in supporting agricultural value chains, sourcing strategic crops such as sunflower and soybeans directly from thousands of Kenyan farmers, thereby enhancing food security and supporting rural communities.
In recent years, the company has invested billions of Kenyan shillings in large-scale industrial expansions and sustainability initiatives, including bioenergy projects, water recycling, and climate-friendly environmental solutions.
Engineer Ahmed El Sebaie, General Manager of Egyptian Swiss Group, stated: “The visit of Mr. Vimal Shah to our Cairo headquarters reflects the growing strength of industrial relations between Egypt and Kenya. Our discussions with Bidco Africa are part of our strategy to expand into the African continent, with Kenya serving as a vital gateway to East and Central Africa. We are confident that combining our expertise in pasta and concentrates manufacturing with Bidco Africa’s leadership in FMCG and food sectors will create real value for consumers.”
For his part, Vimal Shah, Chairman of Bidco Africa, affirmed that his visit marks the beginning of a new phase of cooperation, saying: “We are proud to build a partnership with a leading Egyptian group that possesses strong industrial and export expertise. Our talks today laid a solid foundation for integrating our capabilities, enabling expansion not only in Kenya but across regional markets. We believe this collaboration will enhance supply chains and improve the competitiveness of our products against global players.”
Shah further added that the cooperation with Egyptian Swiss Group will accelerate Bidco’s goal of becoming Africa’s largest food exporter by 2030, especially as the Egyptian group focuses on key products such as pasta and flour.
About Egyptian Swiss Group:
Founded in 1995, Egyptian Swiss Group is one of Egypt’s leading industrial groups in pasta, milling, and concentrates. The group began in flour trading before expanding into milling with its first mill in Assiut in 2003, followed by Borg El Arab in 2007, and establishing a major industrial presence in 10th of Ramadan City in 2010. In 2013, it launched its first pasta factory, followed by a concentrates (tomato paste) factory, while 2018 witnessed the integration of its milling operations to enhance efficiency and production synergy.
Today, the group operates a fully integrated industrial system that includes a pasta factory with a capacity of 8,000 tons per month, two mills with a combined capacity of 30,000 tons of flour per month, and a tomato paste factory producing 3,000 tons per month, in addition to wheat silos with a storage capacity of 50,000 tons to ensure sustainable production. The group employs more than 700 people, who form the backbone of its industrial success and employment generation.
More than 80% of the group’s production is exported to Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States, relying on international quality certifications and standards that boost competitiveness. The local content ratio reaches 100% for tomato paste and 81.45% for pasta, reflecting the company’s commitment to supporting Egyptian industry and strengthening foreign currency resources for the national economy.
