CAIRO, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen years back, what is now the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone was nothing but a stretch of desolate sand. Now, it stands as a testament to transformation and global partnership -- a bustling hub hosting 185 companies, nearly 10,000 Egyptian workers, and 3 billion U.S. dollars in foreign investment.

Ahmed Radwan, executive president of Egypt TEDA Investment Company, remembered joining the project in 2008 when the vision of transforming the desert into an industrial hub seemed nothing short of an impossible dream.

"When I saw the plan for TEDA, how to improve this area and build and develop this area even in a short time, I felt that it was just an unattainable dream," he told Xinhua.

Today, what once seemed like an "unattainable dream" is becoming a reality. Over the years, the economic zone has generated sales exceeding 5.3 billion dollars, contributed nearly 300 million dollars in taxes and fees, and directly provided employment opportunities for close to 10,000 people.

Radwan, who started his career as a financial manager, said the TEDA zone has emerged as a crucial link in China-Egypt economic and trade cooperation, driving Egypt's industrialization by attracting investments, expanding foreign trade, and enhancing manufacturing capabilities.

For many Egyptians, TEDA has been more than just a source of employment; it's a gateway to transformative change.

Take Dina Mahmoud Hassan, who stepped into Jushi Egypt Fiberglass Co., Ltd. back in 2013 as a production planner. Over the course of more than a decade, she's climbed her way up to deputy manager of the planning and logistics division.

"I remember struggling quite a bit after I had my baby and returned to work in 2022. It wasn't easy," she told Xinhua.

"But I received all the support I needed from my team leaders. Honestly, I don't think I'd be where I am today without them," she added.

Dina's hard work has earned her promotions, salary increases, and multiple awards. "The generous salary and benefits have significantly improved my family's situation and quality of life," she said.

Established in 2012, Jushi Egypt has built Egypt's fiberglass industry from the ground up. What started with a single production line 13 years ago has grown to four lines, with a total designed capacity of 360,000 tons per year. This makes it the largest fiberglass manufacturing facility in Africa, positioning Egypt as the world's fourth-largest producer of fiberglass.

XD-EGEMAC High Voltage Electric Equipment Co., Ltd., a joint venture between China XD Group and Egypt's EGEMAC, is another success story within the TEDA zone. The company specializes in providing power transmission and transformation gear, along with engineering services, to the Middle East and African markets from its Egyptian base.

It now employs 260 people, with over 97 percent being Egyptians.

Mossad Ibrahim, the company's deputy general manager, proudly displayed a 2010 photo of a desert construction site on his mobile phone.

"Today, that very site has transformed into this advanced manufacturing base for high-voltage power transformers and gas-insulated metal-enclosed switchgear, supplying essential equipment for the construction and modernization of Egypt's national power grid," he said.

Joining the company in 2009 as a translator, Ibrahim has gradually moved into roles in bidding, sales, and project execution.

"My Chinese colleagues provided invaluable guidance, encouraging me to transcend my translator role and become a generalist," Ibrahim told Xinhua.

Now leading the division of sales and market development, Ibrahim is optimistic about the company's future, aiming to expand its market share across the Gulf, Africa, and Europe.

From stories of personal growth to the facilitation of national economic transformation, the TEDA zone embodies the magic of genuine partnership -- turning dust into development, and dreams into reality.