Friday 17/October/2025 – 04:36 PM
Engineer Hassan Al-Khatib delivered: Minister of Investment And foreign trade, a speech in which he reviewed the most prominent features of the Egyptian economic reform program, and the state’s efforts to enhance private sector participation and facilitate the investment climate, in a way that reflects the growing international confidence in the Egyptian economy and its ability to achieve sustainable growth based on production and export, within the framework of the round table activities organized by the Jefferies Group, with the participation of an elite group of American investors and leaders of financial and investment institutions. In the Middle East and North Africa region, this comes as part of the Minister’s participation in the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington.
Al-Khatib: No increase in burdens on investors
In his speech, the Minister stressed that macroeconomic stability represents the basic foundation for investor confidence, explaining that the government is moving forward steadily in implementing a comprehensive economic and structural reform program, supported by international financial institutions, led by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in a way that provides a clear and transparent framework for economic policies.
He pointed out that the progress achieved in financial discipline and public debt management contributed to strengthening macroeconomic indicators, while the new monetary policies succeeded in containing inflation rates, with positive expectations of their decline during 2026.
Al-Khatib explained that the government is adopting a new approach to empower the private sector to be a major partner in driving growth, stressing that the recent economic reforms have contributed to building a more dynamic and competitive environment, relying on the state’s role as a regulator and catalyst for economic activity, which enhances equal opportunities and encourages local and foreign investments to expand.
Attracting foreign investments
Al-Khatib also highlighted the pivotal role of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) as a major investment partner for the state in attracting foreign investments and maximizing the added value of government assets, by entering into partnerships with American and international funds and companies in multiple fields, thus enhancing the role of the private sector in development and deepening local industrialization.
The minister indicated that the government continues to work on radically improving the business environment by launching the unified digital licensing platform, which allows investors to obtain approvals electronically in record time, in line with the “business readiness” standards through which Egypt seeks to enter the list of the top 50 countries globally in this indicator.
Developing the trade and logistics system
He added that the state’s efforts in developing the trade and logistics system contributed to reducing the customs clearance time from 16 days to about 5.8 days currently, with the aim of reaching only two days during the next phase, by enhancing digital integration between the concerned authorities.
He stressed that these efforts contribute to raising the efficiency of supply chains and increasing the competitiveness of Egyptian exports and the attractiveness of the market to international investors, noting that the government is working to reduce non-tax financial burdens on investors, through a comprehensive review of the fees and burdens imposed by various parties, with the aim of unifying the system and achieving full transparency, ensuring a more competitive and stable business environment.
Regarding investment opportunities for American companies, the minister stressed that Egypt represents a regional hub for manufacturing and services and a major gateway to African, Arab and European markets, benefiting from its distinguished geographical location, the Suez Canal economic zone and multiple free trade agreements.
The Minister called on American companies to enhance their investments in high-value-added growth sectors, especially green energy, including green hydrogen, solar, and wind projects, as well as expanding local manufacturing in the areas of automobile components, pharmaceutical, and engineering industries.
He also pointed to the promising opportunities in the digital economy, especially in the areas of financial technology (FinTech), information and communications technology, and digital infrastructure, which represent a fundamental focus of the national digital transformation agenda.
Al-Khatib concluded by stressing that Egypt today has one of the most competitive business environments in the region, thanks to the structural, legislative and institutional reforms achieved, explaining that the government is continuing to build a modern economy based on innovation, knowledge and sustainable international partnerships, thus enhancing Egypt’s position as a leading regional center for investment, production and services.
The meeting witnessed positive interaction from American investors, who praised the ongoing economic reforms in Egypt and expressed their interest in following developments in the investment environment and promising opportunities for joint cooperation during the next stage.
