Dr. Mohamed Farid, Egypt's Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, recently participated in the Egyptian-French Business Forum in Paris, where he showcased the country's progress in enhancing its investment and business environment. The minister emphasized the government's focus on improving the business climate, streamlining procedures for investors, and supporting production, expansion, and exports. He noted that infrastructure projects implemented over the past few years, including roads, ports, airports, and transportation networks, have significantly contributed to developing logistical capabilities.
The minister highlighted key macroeconomic indicators, revealing that Egypt's real GDP growth rate reached 5.1% in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, up from 2.4% in 2023/2024. Additionally, the unemployment rate has decreased to 5.8%. These improvements have been accompanied by an increase in foreign direct investment flows, with Egypt accounting for 22% of total FDI inflows to Africa in 2025. The government is working to diversify investment sources and create a more favorable business environment.
Dr. Farid reported that 26,531 companies were established in the first half of 2026, with a total issued capital of approximately 97.5 billion Egyptian pounds. To further enhance the business environment, the government is re-engineering licensing procedures and linking government agencies to the investor's journey. The minister also mentioned the development of a digital pathway for post-company establishment procedures, including capital increases.
The government is updating the executive regulations of the Companies Law, which includes proposals for restructuring, mergers, and transformations between legal forms for companies. The updates also cover tools for financing start-ups and shareholder agreements. Furthermore, the average time for customs clearance has decreased from 16 days to 5.8 days as of June 2026, with ongoing efforts to implement additional measures to improve clearance efficiency.
The Ministry of Investment is working on digital tools to support exporters, including Trade Insights and TradeTech Sandbox. These platforms aim to help companies access information and study markets to enhance their ability to penetrate global markets. Dr. Farid also highlighted the presence of French companies in various sectors of the Egyptian market, including technology, energy, transportation, industry, logistics, food industries, healthcare, and banking and insurance.
The minister emphasized the government's commitment to implementing reforms related to investment and foreign trade, focusing on simplifying procedures, digitalization, and supporting investors and exporters. These efforts aim to create a more attractive investment climate and promote economic growth. The Egyptian government is working to build on the progress made in recent years and create a more favorable business environment.
The Egyptian-French Business Forum provided a platform for Dr. Farid to engage with representatives from numerous French companies and global institutions. The event highlighted the potential for increased cooperation and investment between Egypt and France, particularly in areas such as infrastructure development, technology, and renewable energy. The minister's presentation showcased Egypt's progress in improving its investment climate and its commitment to creating a more favorable business environment.
Key points
- The Egyptian government is working to improve the investment climate through legislative updates and digital transformation.
- Egypt's real GDP growth rate reached 5.1% in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, up from 2.4% in 2023/2024.
- The government is updating the executive regulations of the Companies Law to include proposals for restructuring, mergers, and transformations between legal forms for companies.
