Tuesday 14/October/2025 – 09:50 PM
Engineer Hassan Al-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, participated in a round table organized by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) in Washington, DC, in the presence of senior executives and representatives of major American companies in the fields of finance, energy, industry and technology.
In his speech, the Minister affirmed that Egypt is moving forward with implementing a comprehensive economic reform program based on the consistency of monetary, financial and trade policies, and aims to make room for the private sector to lead growth and stimulate long-term investment.
Al-Khatib explained that the government has succeeded in achieving tangible progress in stabilizing macroeconomic indicators, by adjusting public finances, improving resource management, and reducing debt, anticipating a strong decline in inflation rates during the year 2026.
Coherence of monetary, fiscal and trade policies
Al-Khatib pointed out that Egypt gives top priority to improving the investment climate, as it prepares to join the Business Readiness Report in 2026, and aims to be among the first fifty countries in the trade and investment competitiveness axis. As part of the digital transformation of the business environment, the government launched a unified digital platform for issuing licenses, and was able to issue 389 licenses within only 20 days with the activation of the electronic payment system.
The minister also confirmed that the customs clearance time witnessed a radical improvement, as it decreased from 16 days in 2024 to 5.8 days currently, and aims to reach only two days by the end of 2025, which strengthens Egypt’s position as a regional center for logistics services.
In the context of strengthening its trade relations, the minister explained that Egypt has adopted a new trade policy document aimed at maximizing value-added exports and expanding market access, stressing that Egypt seeks to achieve a balance in its international trade relations through mutual direct investments with its strategic partners such as the United States and Europe.
He also stressed that the African continent represents a major priority in the Egyptian strategy, as the government launched a plan to establish six logistical and commercial centers in different regions of the continent, to enable Egypt’s position as a regional center for trade and distribution.
Supporting intermediate and automotive industries
Al-Khatib pointed out that Egypt has a competitive advantage in priority sectors, including intermediate and feed industries for cars, tourism, data centers, and renewable energy.
He stressed that economic reform has become a commitment, not an option, and that the state is establishing a more sustainable phase aimed at transforming the Egyptian economy into a regional platform for production, export, and services.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Minister assured the audience, who praised the government’s vision and speed of implementing reforms, the Egyptian government’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the American business community and providing an investment climate characterized by transparency and equality, stressing that the government is following up on implementing reforms on the ground through rapid mechanisms to solve any challenges facing investors in an immediate and coordinated manner.
